Marine n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake in pregnancy and risk of early life infections in three Nordic cohorts: a HEDIMED consortium study
Rantala, Aino K; Hakola, Leena; Brustad, Nicklas; Tapia, German; Hård Af Segerstad, Elin M; Lehtonen, Jussi; Thorsen, Jonathan; Åkerlund, Mari; Parr, Christine L; Magnus, Maria C; Lund-Blix, Nicolai A; Stokholm, Jakob; Knip, Mikael; Toppari, Jorma; Størdal, Ketil; Veijola, Riitta; Hyöty, Heikki; Virtanen, Suvi M; Bønnelykke, Klaus; Stene, Lars C (2026-02-26)
Elsevier
26.02.2026
Aino K Rantala, Leena Hakola, Nicklas Brustad, German Tapia, Elin M Hård Af Segerstad, Jussi Lehtonen, Jonathan Thorsen, Mari Åkerlund, Christine L Parr, Maria C Magnus, Nicolai A Lund-Blix, Jakob Stokholm, Mikael Knip, Jorma Toppari, Ketil Størdal, Riitta Veijola, Heikki Hyöty, Suvi M Virtanen, Klaus Bønnelykke, Lars C Stene, Marine n–3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake in Pregnancy and Risk of Early Life Infections in 3 Nordic Cohorts: A HEDIMED Consortium Study, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 156, Issue 5, 2026, 101456, ISSN 0022-3166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101456
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Nutrition. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Nutrition. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202603232289
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202603232289
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Background:
n–3 (ω-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n–3 LCPUFAs) have anti-inflammatory effects that may influence immune-mediated diseases.
Objectives:
We investigated whether higher maternal pregnancy intake of n–3 LCPUFA is associated with a lower incidence of infections in young children.
Methods:
We used data from 3 Nordic cohorts: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study (MoBa, n = 76,026), the Finnish Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study (DIPP, n = 560), and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 cohort (COPSAC2010, n = 680). Childhood infections up to age 36 mo were assessed using questionnaires in MoBa, coxsackievirus B 1-6 (CVB1-6) neutralizing antibodies in DIPP, and pathogenic viral PCR identification from acute respiratory episodes in COPSAC2010. Maternal n–3 LCPUFA intake was assessed through validated food frequency questionnaires in MoBa and DIPP, whereas COPSAC2010 used a randomized trial design where pregnant women received fish oil capsules or a placebo.
Results:
Higher n–3 LCPUFA intake was not significantly associated with lower respiratory tract infection (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.94–1.03) but was associated with a reduced risk of upper respiratory tract infections (aIRR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99) and gastroenteritis (aIRR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95–0.98) per g/d up to age 36 mo in MoBa. The DIPP study found no association between n–3 LCPUFA intake and having ≥1 CVB infection (adjusted odds ratio: 1.74; 95% CI: 0.64–4.72, per g/d). The COPSAC2010 trial found no significant effects of the intervention for pathogen-specific respiratory episodes (IRR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.69–1.07).
Conclusions:
This study does not provide consistent evidence that higher maternal n–3 LCPUFA pregnancy intake reduces the risk of infections in early childhood.
Clinical Trial Registry:
This trial was registered as NCT00798226, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00798226
Background:
n–3 (ω-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n–3 LCPUFAs) have anti-inflammatory effects that may influence immune-mediated diseases.
Objectives:
We investigated whether higher maternal pregnancy intake of n–3 LCPUFA is associated with a lower incidence of infections in young children.
Methods:
We used data from 3 Nordic cohorts: the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort study (MoBa, n = 76,026), the Finnish Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study (DIPP, n = 560), and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 cohort (COPSAC2010, n = 680). Childhood infections up to age 36 mo were assessed using questionnaires in MoBa, coxsackievirus B 1-6 (CVB1-6) neutralizing antibodies in DIPP, and pathogenic viral PCR identification from acute respiratory episodes in COPSAC2010. Maternal n–3 LCPUFA intake was assessed through validated food frequency questionnaires in MoBa and DIPP, whereas COPSAC2010 used a randomized trial design where pregnant women received fish oil capsules or a placebo.
Results:
Higher n–3 LCPUFA intake was not significantly associated with lower respiratory tract infection (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.94–1.03) but was associated with a reduced risk of upper respiratory tract infections (aIRR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.98–0.99) and gastroenteritis (aIRR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95–0.98) per g/d up to age 36 mo in MoBa. The DIPP study found no association between n–3 LCPUFA intake and having ≥1 CVB infection (adjusted odds ratio: 1.74; 95% CI: 0.64–4.72, per g/d). The COPSAC2010 trial found no significant effects of the intervention for pathogen-specific respiratory episodes (IRR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.69–1.07).
Conclusions:
This study does not provide consistent evidence that higher maternal n–3 LCPUFA pregnancy intake reduces the risk of infections in early childhood.
Clinical Trial Registry:
This trial was registered as NCT00798226, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00798226
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