Background: The rising prevalence of asthma and allergic disease remains unexplained. Several risk factors have been implicated including diet, in particular poly-unsaturated fats and antioxidant intake.

Methods: A nested case–control study comparing the dietary intake of sensitized children with recurrent wheeze (age 3–5 years) and nonsensitized children who had never wheezed was carried out within an unselected population-based cohort. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, parental atopy, indoor allergen exposure and pet ownership. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and nutrient analysis program.

Results: Thirty-seven case–control pairs (23 male, mean age 4.4 years) participated. Daily total polyunsaturated fat intake was significantly higher in sensitized wheezers (g/day, geometric mean, 95% confidence intervals: 7.1, 6.4–7.9) compared with nonsensitized nonwheezy children (5.6, 5.0–6.3, P = 0.003). Daily omega-3 and omega-6 fat intakes were not significantly different between the two groups. No significant differences were found in intake of any antioxidant or antioxidant cofactors between the groups.

Conclusions: Young sensitized wheezy children had a significantly higher total polyunsaturated fat intake compared with nonsensitized nonwheezy children. However, we were unable to distinguish a significant difference in specific poly-unsaturated fat intakes. Otherwise the children in both groups had a very similar nutritional intake.

References

1 McKeever TM, Britton J. Diet and asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 170: 725–729.
10.1164/rccm.200405-611PP
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
2 Raper NR, Marston RM. Levels and sources of fat in the US food supply. In: C Ip, editor. Dietary fat and cancer. Alan R. Liss, New York, pp. 127–152.
Google Scholar
3 Roberts DCK. Dietary factors in the fall of coronary heart disease mortality. Prostaglandin Leukot Essential Fatty Acids 1991; 44: 97–101.
10.1016/0952-3278(91)90190-G
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
4 Custovic A, Simpson BM, Murray CS, Lowe L, Woodcock A. The National Asthma Campaign Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2002; 13 (Suppl. 15): 32–37.
10.1034/j.1399-3038.13.s.15.3.x
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
5 Lowe L, Murray C, Custovic A, Simpson BM, Kissen P, Woodcock A. Specific airway resistance in three year old children. Lancet 2002; 359: 1904–1908.
10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08781-0
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
6 Forastiere F, Pistelli R, Sestini P, Fortes C, Renzoni E, Rusconi F et al.. Consumption of fresh fruit rich in vitamin C and wheezing symptoms in children. Thorax 2000; 55: 283–288.
10.1136/thorax.55.4.283
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
7 Cook DG, Carey IM, Whincup PH, Papacosta O, Chirico S, Bruckdorfer KR et al.. Effect of fresh fruit consumption on lung function and wheeze in children. Thorax 1997; 52: 628–633.
10.1136/thx.52.7.628
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
8 Romieu I, Mannino DM, Redd SC, McGeehin MA. Dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index, and childhood asthma in the Third National Health And Nutrition Survey (NHANES III). Pediatr Pulmonol 2004; 38: 31–42
10.1002/ppul.20042
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
9 Hijazi N, Abalkhail B, Seaton A. Diet and childhood asthma in a society in transition: a study in urban and rural Saudi Arabia. Thorax 2000; 55: 775–779.
10.1136/thorax.55.9.775
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
10 Nagel G, Nieters A, Becker N, Linseisen J. The influence of the dietary intake of fatty acids and antioxidants on hay fever in adults. Allergy 2003; 58: 1277–1284.
10.1046/j.1398-9995.2003.00296.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
11 Burr ML, Fehily AM, Rogers S, Welsby E, King S, Sandham S. Diet and reinfarction trial (DART): design, recruitment, and compliance. Eur Heart J 1989; 10: 558–567.
10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a059528
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
12 Fehily AM, Yarnell JW, Butland BK. Diet and ischaemic heart disease in the Caerphilly Study. Hum Nutr Appl Nutr 1987; 41: 319–326.
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
13 Wijga AH, Smit HA, Kerkhof M, de Jongste JC, Gerritsen J, Neijens HJ et al. Association of consumption of products containing milk fat with reduced asthma risk in preschool children: the PIAMA birth cohort study. Thorax 2003; 58: 567–572.
10.1136/thorax.58.7.567
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
14 Yacoob B, Pala HS, Cortina-Borja M, Newsholme EA, Calder PC. Encapsulated fish oil enriched in α-tocopherol alters plasma phospholipid and mononuclear cell fatty acid composition but not mononuclear cell functions. Eur J Clin Invets 2000; 30: 260–274.
10.1046/j.1365-2362.2000.00623.x
Google Scholar
15 Black PN, Sharp S. Dietary fat and asthma: is there a connection? Eur Respir J 1997; 10: 6–12.
10.1183/09031936.97.10010006
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
16 Naito Y, Endo H, Aria KI, Coffman RL, Arai N. Signal transduction in Th clones: target of differential modulation by PGE₂ may reside downstream of the PKC-dependent pathway. Cytokine 1996; 8: 346–356.
10.1006/cyto.1996.0048
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
17 Snijdewint FGM, Kalinski P, Wierenga EA, Bos JD, Kapsenberg ML. Prostaglandin E₂ differentially modulates cytokine secretion profiles of human T-helper lymphocytes. J Immunol 1993; 150: 5321–5329.
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
18 Benbernou N, Esnault S, Shin HCK, Fekkar H, Guenounou M. Differential regulation of INF-gamma, IL-10 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in human T cells by cyclic AMP-dependent signal transduction. Immunol 1997; 91: 361–368.
10.1046/j.1365-2567.1997.00260.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
19 Peat JK, Salome CM, Woolcock AJ. Factors associated with bronchoial hyperresponsiveness in Australian adults and children. Eur Resp J 1992; 5: 921–929.
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
20 Michels K, Sachs F. Trans fatty acids in European margarines. N Engl J Med 1995; 333: 130–132.
10.1056/NEJM199507133330217
Google Scholar
21 Von Mutius E, Weiland SK, Fritzsch C, Duhme H, Keil U. Increasing prevalence of hay fever and atopy among children in Leipzig, East Germany. Lancet 1998; 351: 862–866.
10.1016/S0140-6736(97)10100-3
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
22 Bolte G, Frye C, Hoelscher B, Meyer I, Wjst M, Heinrich J. margarine consumption and allergy in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 165: 277–279.
10.1164/ajrccm.163.1.2006004
Google Scholar
23 Dunder T, Kuikka L, Turtinen J, Rasanen L, Uhari M. Diet, serum fatty acids, and atopic diseases in childhood. Allergy 2001; 56: 425–428.
10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.056005425.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
24 Hodge L, Salome CM, Peat JK, Haby MM, Xuan W, Woolcock AJ. Consumption of oily fish and childhood asthma risk. MJA 1996; 164: 137–140.
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
25 Nafstad P, Nystad W, Magnus P, Jaakkola JJ. Asthma and allergic rhinitis at 4 years of age in relation to fish consumption in infancy. J Asthma 2003; 40: 343–348.
10.1081/JAS-120018633
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
26 Haby MM, Peat JK, Marks GB, Woolcock AJ, Leeder SR. Asthma in preschool children: prevalence and risk factors. Thorax 2001; 56: 589–595.
10.1136/thx.56.8.589
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
27 Mihrshahi S, Peat JK, Marks GB, Mellis CM, Tovey ER, Webb K et al. for the CAPS team. Eighteen month outcomes of house dust mite avoidance and dietary fatty acid modification in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS). J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003; 111: 162–168.
10.1067/mai.2003.36
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
28 Gore C, Custovic A. Can we prevent allergy? Allergy 2004; 59: 151–161.
10.1046/j.1398-9995.2003.00358.x
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
29 Peat JK, Mihrshahi S, Kemp AS, Marks GB, Tovey ER, Webb K et al. for the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study Team. Three year outcomes of dietary fatty acid modification and house dust mite reduction in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004; 114: 807–813.
10.1016/j.jaci.2004.06.057
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
30 Dunstan JA, Mori TA, Barden A, Beilin LJ, Taylor AL, Holt PG et al. Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy modifies neonatal allergen-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes in infants at high risk of atopy: a randomised, controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003; 112: 1178–1184.
10.1016/j.jaci.2003.09.009
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume61, Issue4

April 2006

Pages 438-442

Dietary intake in sensitized children with recurrent wheeze and healthy controls: a nested case–control study

Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Dietary intake in sensitized children with recurrent wheeze and healthy controls: a nested case–control study

Abstract

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information