Menu
03/06/2010
'Burger Diet' Increases Child Asthma
Eating three or more burgers a week may boost a child's risk of asthma and wheeze - at least in developed nations - reveals a large international study, published in Thorax today.
Conversely, a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, and fish seems to stave off the risk, the research shows.
The research team base their findings on data collected between 1995 and 2005 on 50,000 children between the ages of eight and 12 from 20 rich and poor countries around the world.
Their parents were asked about their children's normal diet and whether they had ever been diagnosed with asthma and/or have had wheeze.
Just under 30,000 of the children were tested for allergic reactions, to see if diet also influenced their chances of developing allergies.
Diet did not seem to be associated with becoming sensitised to common allergens, such as grass and tree pollen. But it did seem to influence the prevalence of asthma and wheeze.
High fruit intake was associated with a low rate of wheeze among children from rich and poor countries.
Similarly, a diet high in fish protected children in rich countries, while a diet rich in and cooked green vegetables protected children against wheeze in poor countries.
Overall, a Mediterranean diet, high in fruit, vegetables, and fish was associated with a lower lifetime prevalence of asthma and wheeze.
But eating three or more burgers a week was associated with a higher lifetime prevalence of asthma and wheeze, particularly among children with no allergies in rich countries.
A heavy meat diet, however, had no bearing on the prevalence of asthma or wheeze.
The authors say that fruit and vegetables are rich in antioxidant vitamins and biologically active agents, while the omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish have anti-inflammatory properties, so there are biologically plausible links for the findings.
Burger consumption could be a proxy for other lifestyle factors, they add, particularly as the increased asthma risk associated with it was not found in poor countries.
Thorax is one of more than 30 specialist titles published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group.
See: www.thorax.bmj.com
(BMcC/GK)
Conversely, a Mediterranean diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, and fish seems to stave off the risk, the research shows.
The research team base their findings on data collected between 1995 and 2005 on 50,000 children between the ages of eight and 12 from 20 rich and poor countries around the world.
Their parents were asked about their children's normal diet and whether they had ever been diagnosed with asthma and/or have had wheeze.
Just under 30,000 of the children were tested for allergic reactions, to see if diet also influenced their chances of developing allergies.
Diet did not seem to be associated with becoming sensitised to common allergens, such as grass and tree pollen. But it did seem to influence the prevalence of asthma and wheeze.
High fruit intake was associated with a low rate of wheeze among children from rich and poor countries.
Similarly, a diet high in fish protected children in rich countries, while a diet rich in and cooked green vegetables protected children against wheeze in poor countries.
Overall, a Mediterranean diet, high in fruit, vegetables, and fish was associated with a lower lifetime prevalence of asthma and wheeze.
But eating three or more burgers a week was associated with a higher lifetime prevalence of asthma and wheeze, particularly among children with no allergies in rich countries.
A heavy meat diet, however, had no bearing on the prevalence of asthma or wheeze.
The authors say that fruit and vegetables are rich in antioxidant vitamins and biologically active agents, while the omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish have anti-inflammatory properties, so there are biologically plausible links for the findings.
Burger consumption could be a proxy for other lifestyle factors, they add, particularly as the increased asthma risk associated with it was not found in poor countries.
Thorax is one of more than 30 specialist titles published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group.
See: www.thorax.bmj.com
(BMcC/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
25 November 2010
Workplace Asthma Costs UK At Least £100 Million A Year
Workplace asthma costs the UK at least £100 million a year, and may be as high as £135 million, reveals research published online in Thorax. An estimated 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma are diagnosed every year in the UK, but the condition is under diagnosed, say the authors.
Workplace Asthma Costs UK At Least £100 Million A Year
Workplace asthma costs the UK at least £100 million a year, and may be as high as £135 million, reveals research published online in Thorax. An estimated 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma are diagnosed every year in the UK, but the condition is under diagnosed, say the authors.
06 May 2014
UK Asthma Patients Dies Due The Lack Of Care
The first confidential enquiry report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Why asthma still kills, found nearly half (45%, 87 patients) of those included in this study who died from asthma did not have any medical help during the final asthma attack.
UK Asthma Patients Dies Due The Lack Of Care
The first confidential enquiry report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Why asthma still kills, found nearly half (45%, 87 patients) of those included in this study who died from asthma did not have any medical help during the final asthma attack.
16 April 2009
Vitamin Link To Asthma Revealed
A relatively low dietary intake of vitamins A and C boosts the risk of asthma, suggests a systematic analysis of the available evidence, published ahead of print in the journal Thorax. These findings clash with a large review of the evidence, which was published last year.
Vitamin Link To Asthma Revealed
A relatively low dietary intake of vitamins A and C boosts the risk of asthma, suggests a systematic analysis of the available evidence, published ahead of print in the journal Thorax. These findings clash with a large review of the evidence, which was published last year.
06 May 2003
Report slams NHS asthma treatment
An estimated four million asthma sufferers are struggling needlessly with symptoms because the NHS is not providing a high enough standard of care, according to research published today. The findings by a team from the National Asthma Campaign – to coincide with World Asthma Day – indicates that 74% of the 5.
Report slams NHS asthma treatment
An estimated four million asthma sufferers are struggling needlessly with symptoms because the NHS is not providing a high enough standard of care, according to research published today. The findings by a team from the National Asthma Campaign – to coincide with World Asthma Day – indicates that 74% of the 5.
21 January 2013
Asthma In Children Down Since Smoking Ban
New research has shown there was a sharp drop in childhood asthma cases following the smoking in public places ban. Using NHS figures going back to April 2002, researchers from Imperial College London say there was a 12% drop in the first year immediately following the ban.
Asthma In Children Down Since Smoking Ban
New research has shown there was a sharp drop in childhood asthma cases following the smoking in public places ban. Using NHS figures going back to April 2002, researchers from Imperial College London say there was a 12% drop in the first year immediately following the ban.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
