Continuous farm milk consumption in childhood protects against asthma at school age partially by means of higher intake of ω-3 polyunsaturated FAs, which are precursors of anti-inflammatory mediators.

This obesity model demonstrates that HFD-induced obesity lowers the sensitization threshold in a model of asthma. This finding helps to understand why, particularly during childhood, obesity is a risk factor for the development of allergic asthma.

Within the last five decades, the worldwide prevalence of allergic diseases such as asthma, hay fever, or food allergies has increased dramatically. Germany follows a similar trend; several studies have shown increased numbers of allergic diseases in this period. Although allergic diseases do not exhibit high mortality rates, the loss of quality of life as shown by studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) is considerable. Additional health-economical analyses documented that allergic patients more frequently occupy services of the health care system in Germany. The treatment of allergies and the increasing consultation rates cause rising costs and an increasing burden for the national economy. Currently it is possible to control allergic diseases such as asthma by a precise diagnosis or identification of the causative allergen. However, a considerable reduction in the prevalence of allergic disease and its therapy costs can only be expected if causative therapies and effective prevention strategies are available.

With the newly adapted protocols, combined and rapid analyses of up to 46 FAMEs, including CLAs and omega-3/-6 LC-PUFAs, can be conducted with high reliability and reproducibility using serum, erythrocyte membranes or cow's milk. This provides a novel tool that can be easily implemented in epidemiological studies or clinical diagnostics.