Early-Life Intake of Marine n-3 Fatty Acids, Genetic Fatty Acid Desaturase Variants, and Risk of Celiac Disease

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to investigate whether early-life marine n-3 fatty acids and fish intake, and fatty acid desaturase ( FADS ) genetic variants were associated with later risk of celiac disease (CeD). METHODS: Among 85,244 children in the prospective Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study, fish and marine fatty acid intakes were estimated from questionnaires to mothers during pregnancy, and at child's age 6 and 18 months. rs1535 tagged common FADS haplotypes. Child's CeD status was obtained from the Norwegian Patient Registry and parental questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 1,363 (1.6%) children were diagnosed with CeD (follow-up median 16.1 years; range 12.5-19.8). Total pregnancy eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake was not associated with child CeD risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94-1.10, per g/d increase). Pregnancy EPA and DHA supplementation was associated with a higher child CeD risk (aOR 1.24, 95% CI = 1.09-1.41, compared with nonuse). EPA and DHA supplementation at age 6 months (aOR 0.98, 95% CI = 0.87-1.10) and 18 months (aOR 0.98, 95% CI = 0.86-1.12), and fish intake at age 18 months (aOR 1.00, 95% CI = 0.95-1.05, per serving/week) were not associated with CeD. CeD risk was higher in children carrying FADS major alleles (OR 1.10, 95% CI = 1.00-1.20, per additional allele). DISCUSSION: Overall, there was no evidence that the total intake of marine n- 3 fatty acids in early life was associated with a lower risk of CeD. Instead, data suggested an association in the positive direction for the child's genotypes resulting in higher EPA and DHA status, and EPA and DHA supplements during pregnancy, with child CeD risk.