Nutrition and Asthma

The association of asthma and air pollution: Evidence from India

In the last two decades, air pollution has increased throughout India resulting in the deterioration of air quality. This paper estimates the prevalence of self-reported asthma in women aged 15-49 years and examines the link between outdoor air pollution and disease prevalence in India by combining satellite data on particulate matter (PM2.5) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015-16. The results indicate that both indoor pollution as well as outdoor air pollution are important risk factors for asthma in women as both independently increase the probability of asthma among this group. Strategies around the prevention of asthma need to recognize the role of both indoor as well as outdoor air pollution. The other significant risk factors for asthma are smoking, second-hand smoking, type of diet and obesity.

A nationwide study of asthma correlates among adolescents in Saudi Arabia

Background

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammation disease that is frequently found in children and adolescents with an increasing prevalence. Several studies are linking its presence to many lifestyle and health correlates. The objective of this study was to explore these correlates and find characteristics of self-reported asthmatics among adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional, school-based study carried out in all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. Sampling was randomly done from intermediate and secondary school students. Data in our study consisted of demographic characteristics, health conditions and lifestyle patterns and were compared between the two groups: asthmatics versus non-asthmatics. Comparison between the two groups was done by analyzing our data using Statistical Analysis Software SURVEYFREQ procedure (SAS Version 9; SAS Institute, Cary, NC).

Results

Among a sample of 11,348 participants, the prevalence of self-reported asthma was found to be 8.2%. Various characteristics were found significantly different between the 2 groups including the gender, the weight, the family’s education, and dietary patterns. Self –reported asthmatic were more likely to be males, overweight or obese, with a lower father’s level of education and a higher consumption of milk and power drinks.

Conclusion

Asthma disease remains prevalent among adolescents in Saudi Arabia and requires higher awareness and better guidance for its prevention and treatment. Further efforts should focus on health promotion and lifestyle wellness to support preventive efforts of this chronic disease condition.

Relationships between Plasma Micronutrients, Serum IgE, and Skin Test Reactivity and Asthma among School Children in Rural Southwest Nigeria

Objective. Increasing prevalence of asthma has been attributed to changes in lifestyle and environmental exposures. We conducted a case-control study to investigate the relationship between serum micronutrients and asthma in rural school children in Nigeria. Methods. We administered questionnaires to 1,562 children to identify children with asthma. Serum concentration levels of 12 micronutrients were determined in asthma cases (N = 37) and controls (N = 30). Allergy skin prick test and spirometry were also performed. Results. Plasma levels of the following micronutrients were significantly different between cases and controls: calcium (7.48 ± 2.16 versus 8.29 ± 1.62 mg/dL; P = 0.04), manganese (44.1 ± 11.5 versus 49.3 ± 7.9 mg/L; P = 0.01), selenium (76.1 ± 14.9 versus 63.3 ± 26.8 μg/L; P = 0.02), and albumin (3.45 ± 0.90 versus 3.91 ± 0.99 g/dL; P = 0.04). Plasma concentrations of iron and selenium were positively correlated with lung function, r = 0.43 (P < 0.05 in each case) while manganese serum concentration was negatively correlated with asthma (r = −0.44; P < 0.05). Conclusions. Children with asthma had reduced levels of plasma manganese, calcium, and albumin but raised level of selenium. The protective or risk effects of these micronutrients on asthma warrant further investigation.