Association Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Asthma in Peruvian Children

Abstract

PurposeAdherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern may be associated with lower asthma prevalence in children. We sought to corroborate these findings in Peruvian children.MethodsThis case–control study included children of ages 9–19 years living in Lima, Peru. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed and diet pattern was analyzed using a modified Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Primary analysis investigated the relationship between MDS and asthma status. Maternal education, age, sex, and body mass index category were included in multivariate model. Secondary outcomes included asthma control, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), allergic rhinitis, and atopic status.Results287 participants with asthma and 96 controls without asthma completed a FFQ. Mean age was 13.5 years. According to the asthma control test (ACT), 86 % of those with asthma were controlled (score >19). MDS scores ranged 6–18 (median 15). In adjusted analysis, being above the median MDS scores was associated with decreased odds of asthma [OR = 0.55, 95 % CI (0.33, 0.92), p = 0.02]. Among children whose mothers completed secondary education, being above the median MDS significantly decreased the odds of asthma [OR = 0.31, 95 % CI (0.14, 0.71), p < 0.01], whereas among those whose mothers did not complete secondary education there was no protective effect [OR = 0.86, 95 % CI (0.43, 1.7), p = 0.66]. There was no association between MDS scores and asthma control, FEV1, allergic rhinitis, or atopic status.ConclusionAdherence to the Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with having asthma among children in Lima, Peru. This effect was strongest among children with better educated mothers.

EAACI position paper on diet diversity in pregnancy, infancy and childhood: Novel concepts and implications for studies in allergy and asthma

“…Some studies showed a small but positive effect on current severe asthma in girls 105 and a protective effect on asthma/ wheeze. 69,96,100,110 Alternatively, some studies showed no protective effect on asthma and/or rhinitis symptoms 98,99,108,109 or atopic dermatitis. 97 None of the studies reported on food allergy as an outcome.…”

The effect of obesity, weight gain, and weight loss on asthma inception and control

“…Breastfeeding 51,52 and the Mediterranean diet 53,54 have each been associated to lower risk of both obesity and asthma. We recently described that a diet abundant in sweets and dairy products is associated with increased asthma risk (and with higher serum IL-17F), while frequent consumption of vegetables and grains was linked to lower odds of asthma 55 .…”

Mediterranean diet in the southern Croatia – does it still exist?

“…It is traditionally practiced in countries of the Mediterranean basin, especially Greece, Italy, and Spain (1). Described benefits included cardiovascular diseases prevention (2), reversion of the metabolic syndrome (3), prevention of the invasive breast cancer (4), prostate (5), and colorectal cancer (6), prevention of the age-related cognitive decline (7), and even a protective role in asthma among children (8,9). Additionally, in Swedish population a 2-year survival increase was observed among people with higher compliance with the Mediterranean diet (10).…”