ISLAMABAD: Pregnant women who consume two to three servings of fish a week are as likely to protect their newborns from developing asthma, finds a recent study.

Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, have found that children whose mothers consume high doses of Omega-3 fatty acids daily during the third trimester are less likely to develop such breathing problems.

The New England Journal of Medicine study included 346 pregnant women in their third trimester who took Omega-3 fatty acids daily and 349 who took a placebo, Health News reported.

The investigators also divided the trial population into three groups based on their blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids.

The population with the lowest blood levels benefited the most from fish oil supplementation.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology randomised pregnant women in their third trimester into fish oil, placebo and "no oil" groups.

The fish oil group took Omega-3 fatty acids daily as did the placebo (olive oil) group.

The "no oil" group was informed of the trial proposal and therefore could consume fish oil or fish during the third trimester if they chose to do so.

The findings indicated that the fish oil and the "no oil" groups took less asthma medication as they aged to 24 years old, inferring both groups developed less asthma.

"Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by humans and therefore are essential nutrients which are derived exclusively from marine sources," said iChen Hsing Lin from the University of South Florida.

"It may be premature to recommend daily high dose fish oil supplementation during the third trimester.

" A professor at the university, Richard Lockey, said that with almost equal to slightly higher cost, consuming 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of fish a week not only may attain the same asthma protection, but strengthens the nutritional benefits to infant growth and development.