Fish Sticks Not A Good Source of Omega 3s

Category: Diet and Nutrition

Omega 3 fatty acid consumption during pregnancy has proven to promote optimal brain development and protect against atopic disease in the fetus/newborn. A recent trial from the University of Southern California studied incidence of asthma in children in relation to maternal fish intake.

Asthma is one of the triad conditions of atopic disease. It is marked by high inflammation, mediated by leukotrienes. Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory for conditions such as asthma because they shunt the production of leukotrienes from inflammatory mediators to non-inflammatory mediators.

Fish oils are high in omega 3 fatty acids, specifically DHA and EPA. Various sources of fish may be higher in omega 3 fatty acids. The study gathered information on fish consumption from mothers including type of fish and preparation. Mothers were also questioned about a past history of asthma.

Children in the study were either in the asthma group or used as controls if asthma had not been diagnosed by a physician by age 5.

After careful analysis the researchers at Keck School of Medicine found that fish oil consumption protected some children from developing asthma. Those children whose mothers had a past history of asthma were protected if mothers consumed oily fish at least once a month.

If the source of fish was fish sticks, there was no protection offered against developing asthma. In fact, fish sticks, which are often a source of trans-fatty acids, increased the risk of developing asthma.

In children whose mothers did not have asthma, fish consumption did not offer any protection.

Posted by Kristopher Foster on October 19, 2013 11:00 AM