Childhood diet and asthma and atopy at 8 years of age: the PIAMA birth cohort study

Abstract

Diet may affect the development of asthma. We investigated whether asthma or atopy outcomes at 8 yrs of age were associated with long-term dietary exposure, and whether associations were different for consumption at early or later age.The Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort enrolled 4,146 participants at baseline, who were followed up to 8 yrs of age. Dietary intakes of interest were fruit, vegetables, brown/wholemeal bread, fish, milk, butter and margarine. Associations between food intake at early (2-3 yrs) and later (7-8 yrs) age, and long-term intake, asthma and atopy at 8 yrs of age were calculated by logistic regression.Complete longitudinal dietary data for at least one of the food groups were available for 2,870 children. Fruit consumption at early age was associated with reduced asthma symptoms (OR per 1 consumption day per week increase 0.93, 95% CI 0.85-1.00). Long-term fruit intake was inversely associated with asthma symptoms (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.99) and sensitisation to inhaled allergens (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.99). We found no consistent associations between diet and outcomes for other foods.This study indicates no consistent effects of increased early or late consumption, or long-term intake of certain foods on asthma and atopy in 8-yr-olds, with a possible exception for fruit.

Fish Consumption in Infancy and Asthma-like Symptoms at Preschool Age

“…In contrast, Willers et al showed no association between the amount of fish consumption at age 2 to 3 years and 7 to 8 years and asthma diagnosis at 8 years. 33 Age differences and variation in measuring fish consumption make it difficult to compare our results with previous studies but there seems to be a tendency for a beneficial effect on asthma when fish exposure occurs in the first year of life. Our study suggests that appropriate timing of introduction of fish rather than the amount of fish servings after 12 months is important in the association with wheezing.…”

Antioxidant foods consumption and childhood asthma and other allergic diseases: The Greek cohorts of the ISAAC II survey

“…refused. 4 Moreover, high consumption of antioxidants was associated with higher pulmonary function and decreased chronic respiratory symptoms in children, especially those exposed to high levels of air or smoke pollutants. 7,8,29,30 Fish consumption has been also related with lower asthma episodes in infancy and childhood.…”

Microbiota abnormalities in inflammatory airway diseases — Potential for therapy

“…The increasing use of antibiotic treatment (Droste et al, 2000;Verhulst et al, 2008) as well as the change in lifestyle in westernized countries (Matricardi, 2001), especially including diet (Chatzi et al, 2007;Willers et al, 2011), can lead to alterations in the microbial composition and such conditions are strongly linked to a higher risk of asthma development (Bottcher et al, 2000). Specific shifts in the intestinal microbial communities have been associated with an asthmatic phenotype, displaying a reduction in Bacteroidetes, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria (Bjorksten et al, 1999;Ouwehand et al, 2001).…”