Fish oil and probiotic supplements during pregnancy may reduce infant risk of allergic disease

With uncertain evidence over how maternal diets and early nutritional exposure will influence the development of a baby’s immune system, researchers carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diets of 381 pregnant mothers.

They discovered that there was a 22% reduced risk of eczema for the baby when the mother took probiotic supplements from 36 weeks of pregnancy right up to breast feeding of either three to six months. They also found that there was a 31% reduction in the risk of egg allergy if fish oil capsules were taken from 20 weeks of pregnancy through to the first three to four months of breastfeeding.

These findings will help inform future guideless on the use of supplements during pregnancy in due course.