Diet Affects Asthma

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It appears as if diet plays a significant role in the development of asthma. A new study shows young children who regularly eat products containing milk fat are less likely to develop asthma. The study examined 2-year-old children and looked at the presence of asthma at age 3.

Nearly 3,000 children in the Netherlands were studied and the prevalence of asthma at age 3 was found to be lower in children who consumed full cream daily as compared to those who did not. Also, children who ate butter daily had a lower incidence of asthma than those who did not. Children who ate wheat bread instead of white bread also had a lower prevalence of asthma. Researchers have long suspected the Western lifestyle plays a large part in the development of asthma.

The researchers say they are not clear on the cause of the link. They speculate various fatty acids, antioxidants and other nutrients might contribute. Several other researchers suggest the increase in asthma, eczema and allergies is associated with a decrease in saturated fats and an increase in polyunsaturated fats. A diet high in milk fat will result in an increase in saturated fats and may be able to partially explain the findings in this study.

Children who ate a lot of vegetables and fruit juice had somewhat lower rates of asthma, but the differences were not significant enough for researchers to draw a conclusion.

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