Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42521226›Full record

SynthesisAsia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition2026

Early-life high-dose omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces risk of childhood asthma/wheezing: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Sisi Cai, Xinyue Ji, Yang He, Ying Zhou, Sangwangjiu Ge, Mengting Gu, Yujia Shang, Shihan Wang, Danyue Yu, Simeng Ren and 2 more

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Sisi Cai *School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Xinyue Ji *School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Yang HeSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Ying ZhouDepartment of Gastroenterology, Li Huili Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Sangwangjiu GeSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Mengting GuSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Yujia ShangSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Shihan WangSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Danyue YuSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Simeng RenDepartment of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China.
Dezheng ZhouSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. E-mail: zhoudezheng@nbu.edu.cn.
Xiaohong ZhangSchool of Public Health, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. E-mail: zhangxiaohong1@nbu.edu.cn.

Funding

K. C. Wong Magna Fund in NingboMunicipal Key R&D Program of Ningbo 2023Z185National Natural Science Foundation of China 82273621National Natural Science Foundation of China 82404257Ningbo Municipal Public Welfare Research Plan 2024S039Ningbo Natural Science Foundation 2023J162Ningbo Natural Science Foundation 2025J080
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesAsthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by wheezing, imposes a substantial global health burden on children. Given the potential of early-life omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFA) supplementation as an anti-inflammatory intervention to prevent childhood asthma and wheezing, this meta-analysis aims to clarify its efficacy and investigate dose-dependency. METHODS AND STUDY

designThis systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three reviewers independently evaluated the studies, extracted data, and assessed bias using the Jadad scale. The outcomes included the risk of asthma/wheezing: pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using fixed-effects models, along with sensitivity/subgroup analyses and dose-response meta-regression.

resultsTwelve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 4,156 participants showed no overall association between omega-3 PUFA and a reduced risk of asthma/wheezing (odds ratio [OR]: 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-1.18). However, high-dose supplementation (≥1,200 mg/day) significantly decreased the risk (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.46-0.94). Similarly, high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA≥1,000 mg/day) also significantly reduced the risk (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.46-0.97). Dose-response analysis confirmed a linear relationship (p=0.002), indicating a 26.6% reduction in risk for every 1,000 mg/day increase in dose (OR: 0.734; 95% CI: 0.602-0.896). Subgroup analyses revealed no heterogeneity with respect to study location, allergy risk, or follow-up duration.

conclusionsEarly-life omega-3 PUFA supplementation reduces childhood asthma/wheezing risk in a dose-dependent manner. High-dose regimens, particularly those involving EPA, provide substantial protection, suggesting a potential clinical strategy for prevention, although further validation is required.

Indexed as

AsthmaDietary SupplementsFatty Acids, Omega-3Respiratory SoundsChildChild, PreschoolDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansInfantRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicFatty Acids, Omega-3asthma or wheezingdose-response relationshipearly-lifemeta-analysisomega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid

Identifiers

PMID42521226
PMCPMC13413145

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.