Health and Nutrition
Mediterranean diet 'could deter asthma'
Children who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish are less likely to suffer from asthma and wheezing, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that children benefit from the anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3 in fish and antioxidants in fruit and vegetables.
But they warned that children who eat three or more burgers a week may have an increased risk of asthma, although this could be attributed to other unhealthy habits rather than a heavy meat diet.
Researchers from Germany, Spain and England examined data from 50,000 children from 20 countries between 1995 and 2005.
Parents were asked about their child's diet and whether they had been diagnosed with asthma or suffered from wheezing. Around 30,000 of the children were also tested for allergic reactions and to see if diet influenced the chances of them developing allergies.
The findings showed that diet was not associated with becoming sensitised to common allergens, such as tree and grass pollens, but it did influence the prevalence of asthma and wheezing.
Dr Elaine Vickers, research relations manager at Asthma UK, said, 'This study has probed deeper into the relationship between asthma and diet. However, the authors have acknowledged a number of limitations of this study which should make us cautious about interpreting the results - for example, the fact that no adjustment was made in the analysis for total calorie intake, which can have a significant bearing on asthma symptoms.
'Our advice is to ensure that children eat a healthy, balanced diet and also get plenty of exercise.'
Further information
'Effect of diet on asthma and allergic sensitisation in the International Study on Allergies and Asthma in Childhood' is published this month in the journal Thorax (http://thorax.bmj.com)
