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Polyunsaturated fats and asthma
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  1. A S Truswell1
  1. 1Human Nutrition Unit, Biochemistry Building G.08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax.57.1.93-a

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    The paper by Haby et al on the prevalence and risk factors for asthma in preschool children1 appeared in Australian newspapers under the headline “Fatty diet may double risk of childhood asthma”. But the authors have not logically established their assertion that 17% of the cases of recent asthma in Australian rural children 3–5 years old can be attributed to a high intake of polyunsaturated fats. Five reasons make this conclusion improbable.

    (1) The questionnaire was sent by post and parents were not helped professionally to complete it. Only two questions were asked about diet and it seems from table 1 in the paper that there were three possible answers for bread spread and five for frying oil. Predominantly polyunsaturated fats/oils would have been in the last “other” group, presumably used by parents who weren't sure …

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