The role of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory foods in asthma: a population based study.

McComber, T.; Revie, C.; Taylor, J.; Montelpare, W.; Veugelers, P.

Objectives: Asthma is among the most common chronic conditions in childhood. There is growing evidence that diet plays a role in the development of asthma: consumption of anti-inflammatory foods/nutrients (AIF) has been associated with decreased asthma rates while consumption of pro-inflammatory foods (PIF) is associated with increased rates. The objective of this study was to assess the association between food consumption and asthma rates in a population based sample of Prince Edward Island children aged 10-12. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of elementary school children in grades 5 and 6. Children completed an in-class lunchtime food record (LFR) in 2007 (n = 1992), 2010 (n = 1625) and 2012 (n = 1564), recording the food, amount and source overseen by research assistants. Classification into PIF and AIF categories was based on nutrient composition and research evidence. Logistic regression models adjusted for confounders (parental income, education level and child's age) were used to examine the odds of having parent reported asthma associated with daily servings of AIF and PIF. Results: Boys had a greater odds of reported asthma prevalence (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.49-1.97). Given the large effect of gender, separate models were run for boys and girls. In girls, there was a positive association with sugar intake (PIF) (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.06-2.27) and French fries (PIF) (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01-1.60) and asthma rates, while no effect was seen in boys. No significant associations with AIF were shown for either gender. Implications & Conclusions: While consumption of PIF foods is associated with a modest increase in reported asthma rates in girls, there was no evidence of a protective effect of AIF in either gender. These findings are of importance to public health stakeholders and policy makers, suggesting that limiting PIF may be one way of reducing childhood asthma.

PRINCE Edward Island; ASTHMA; CHILDREN'S health; CHILD nutrition; CONFIDENCE intervals; COOKING; DIET; EPIDEMIOLOGICAL research; INFLAMMATION; LUNCHEONS; NUTRITIONAL assessment; SEX distribution; CROSS-sectional method; FOOD diaries; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ODDS ratio; DIETARY sucrose; CHILDREN

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice & Research, 2016, Vol 77, Issue 3, pe13

1486-3847

Academic Journal