Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Lower Atopic Dermatitis Risk: Study
Researchers have found in a new study that higher plasma omega-3 levels are linked to a reduced risk of atopic dermatitis (AD), regardless of genetic predisposition. These findings suggest that increasing omega-3 consumption could serve as a preventive strategy against the condition. The study was published in the Molecular Research & Food Nutrition journal by Rui Mao and fellow researchers.
AD is an inflammatory skin disorder with both genetic and environmental etiology. Data from the UK Biobank were used in the study to assess the influence of fatty acid levels on the risk of AD, particularly with elderly-onset. The research also examined whether genetic susceptibility was influencing this connection. Plasma omega-3 levels were measured and participants were segregated based on genetic risk profiles. The research focused on genetic variants rs1692120 and rs174448, which have been associated with AD susceptibility. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to establish the association between levels of omega-3, genetic risk, and AD occurrence.
Key Findings
• Increased plasma levels of omega-3 were linked with decreased AD risk (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.98), reflecting a protective effect.
• Both high levels of omega-3 and low genetic risk were related to the lowest AD risk, reflecting a 38% decrease in risk as compared to the reference group.
• Individuals with the GA/AA genotype on rs1692120 had a significantly increased risk of AD, whereas those with more A alleles on rs174448 had a significantly lower risk (both p<0.05).
• The research indicates that omega-3 consumption can be a preventive factor against AD, specifically in individuals with lower genetic susceptibility.
These results underscore the possible role of dietary omega-3 fatty acids in lowering AD risk and indicate that the modulation of prevention methods according to genetic profiles could lead to better outcomes of intervention.
The study authors provide evidence of an association between increased circulating omega-3 concentrations and reduced atopic dermatitis risk, unaffected by genetic risk. Those who had both a low genetic risk and high concentrations of omega-3 had the largest decrease in AD risk. These results underscore the potential preventive value of intake of omega-3 and encourage further investigation in order to standardize dietary intervention according to susceptibility genes.
Reference:
Mao R, Meng X, Zhang T, Wang F, Zhong Y, Li J. Evaluating the Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Genetic Susceptibility on Atopic Dermatitis in Adults. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2025 Feb 23:e70002. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.70002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39988861.
