Fish protects children from eczema

Feeding babies one portion of fish before they are 9 months old cuts their risk of developing eczema. Eczema is a chronic condition affecting between 10 and 15 percent of children that can cause the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. It often affects those prone to allergies. Researchers from Sweden studied 17,000 babies to track the long-term health benefits of having fish in the diet. It was found that introducing fish of any type into the diet curbed the risk of contracting eczema by 25 percent compared with children who never ate it. There was no link with the amount of fish or type of fish but the timing of the introduction was important i.e. early introduction. Genes played an important role in the development of eczema but breast-feeding and keeping a furry pet in the house had no effect. There was no extra protection from fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provided other health benefits. Though it can be concluded that fish in the diet is important, however, further investigation is required to establish the reason.

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