A study published in the Respiratory Medicine (e-published July 14, 2010) compared individuals with asthma and grass pollen allergy to healthy controls and found significant differences in fatty acid status. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, measured in erythrocyte membranes, was significantly lower in the asthmatic group than in the healthy controls. Asthma symptoms were proportionally worse in patients with the lowest omega-3 levels, and these individuals also demonstrated greater bronchial reactivity. The findings suggest that a lower omega-3 to omega-6 ratio may be associated with increased asthma severity and that omega-3 fatty acid intake may play a supportive role in asthma management.