Consuming fish may keep off allergies in children

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: A study conducted by researchers says that fish consumption regularly can help in thwarting allergies in kids.

Woman who consume oily fish during pregnancy or breast-feeding may lessen the risk of their kids developing asthma, food allergies or hay fever.

The findings have showed that children introduced to fish and eggs -- major source of omega 3 fatty acids -- before 11 months of age had a lower risk of developing allergies. 

"Fish intake in the family seems to reduce the risk of allergies," said Karin Jonsson from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, in a statement.

Kids who eat fish, eggs and flour early in life were found to have less allergies, as they had higher levels of omega-3 in their blood.

The results showed that at birth, and again at four months of age, the healthy children had higher proportions of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, in their blood.

"The levels corresponded with the mother's intake of fatty fish. The mothers of children with high proportions of omega-3 in the blood had been eating a lot of fish during pregnancy and lactations, and we could also see evidence of this in their breastmilk," Jonsson explained.

(With IANS inputs)