RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Relationship of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis with obesity, exercise and Mediterranean diet in Spanish schoolchildren
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 503
OP 508
DO 10.1136/thx.2006.060020
VO 62
IS 6
A1 Garcia-Marcos, Luis
A1 Canflanca, Izaskun Miner
A1 Garrido, Jose Batlles
A1 Varela, Angel Lopez-Silvarrey
A1 Garcia-Hernandez, Gloria
A1 Grima, Francisco Guillen
A1 Gonzalez-Diaz, Carlos
A1 Carvajal-Urueña, Ignacio
A1 Arnedo-Pena, Alberto
A1 Busquets-Monge, Rosa M
A1 Morales Suarez-Varela, Maria
A1 Blanco-Quiros, Alfredo
YR 2007
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/62/6/503.abstract
AB Background: Although several studies have investigated the influence of diet on asthma in schoolchildren, none of them has evaluated how obesity can modify this effect. A study was undertaken to evaluate the association of various foods and a Mediterranean diet with the prevalence of asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis, adjusting for obesity and exercise. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 20 106 schoolchildren aged 6–7 years from eight Spanish cities. Using the ISAAC phase III questionnaire, parents reported chest and nose symptoms, food intake, weight, height and other factors, including exercise. A Mediterranean diet score was developed. A distinction was made between current occasional asthma (COA) and current severe asthma (CSA). Results: Independent of the amount of exercise, each Mediterranean score unit had a small but protective effect on CSA in girls (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.98). Exercise was a protective factor for COA and rhinoconjunctivitis in girls and boys (the more exercise, the more protection). Obesity was a risk factor for CSA in girls (adjusted OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.64). Individually, a more frequent intake (1–2 times/week and ⩾3 times/week vs never/occasionally) of seafood (adjusted ORs 0.63 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.91) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.80)) and cereals (adjusted OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.30 to 1.02) and 0.39 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.68)) were protective factors for CSA, while fast food was a risk factor (adjusted ORs 1.64 (95% CI 1.28 to 2.10) and 2.26 (95% CI 1.09 to 4.68)). Seafood (adjusted ORs 0.74 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.92) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.85)) and fruit (adjusted ORs 0.76 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.97) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.88)) were protective factors for rhinoconjunctivitis. Conclusions: A Mediterranean diet has a potentially protective effect in girls aged 6–7 years with CSA. Obesity is a risk factor for this type of asthma only in girls.