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 - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

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

Authors: 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.; the HEDIMED Investigator Group

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Publication year: 2026

Journal: Journal of Nutrition

Article number: 101456

Volume: 156

Issue: 5

ISSN: 0022-3166

eISSN: 1541-6100

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101456

Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access

Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101456

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/515684061

Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY

Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF

Abstract

Background

n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) have anti-inflammatory effects that may influence immune-mediated diseases.

Objective

We investigated whether higher maternal pregnancy intake of n-3 LCPUFA is associated with a lower infection incidence in young children.

Methods

We used data from three 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 months 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, while COPSAC2010 used a randomized trial design where pregnant women received fish oil capsules or 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/day up to age 36 months 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/day). 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

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Funding information in the publication:
This study has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 874864 HEDIMED. The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Education and Research, NIH/NIEHS (contract no N01-ES-75558), NIH/NINDS (grant no.1 UO1 NS 047537-01 and grant no.2 UO1 NS 047537-06A1). The Finnish Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study was supported by supported by JDRF/Breakthrough T1D [grants 1-SRA-2016-342-MR, 1-SRA-2019-732-M-B, 3-SRA-2020-955-S-B], European Commission [grant BMH4-CT98-3314], Novo Nordisk Foundation, Research Council of Finland [Decisions No 292538 and No 339922], Diabetes Research Foundation in Finland and Special Research Funds for University Hospitals in Finland. NB received funding from The Lundbeck Foundation (R381-2021-1428) and from the Independent Research Fund Denmark (5253-00016B).