Fish oil and probiotic supplements in pregnancy may reduce allergy risk

Women who take fish oil supplements and probiotics in later pregnancy may reduce their child's risk of food allergy and eczema. In one of the largest ever research reports of how a pregnant woman's diet affects her baby's allergy and eczema risk, scientists from Imperial College London assessed over 400 studies involving 1.5 million people. As part of the study , they found that when pregnant women took a daily fish oil capsule from 20 weeks pregnant, and during the first three to four months of breastfeeding, risk of egg allergy in the child was reduced by 30 per cent. The team, who were commissioned by the Food Standards Agency , also found that taking a daily probiotic supplement from 36-38 weeks pregnant, and during the first three to six months of breastfeeding, reduced the risk of a child developing eczema by 22 per cent. Food allergies and eczema in children are a growing problem across the world Dr Robert Boyle Study author The researchers, who published their meta-analysis in the journal PLOS Medicine , found no evidence that avoiding potentially allergenic foods such as nuts, dairy and eggs during pregnancy made a difference to a child's allergy or eczema risk. Dr Robert Boyle , lead author of the research from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London, explained: "Food allergies and eczema in children are a growing problem across the world.