Diets rich in omega-3s lead to a decrease in asthma symptoms caused by indoor pollution, while diets rich in omega-6s are associated with more severe asthma, according to a new American study conducted on children. .
Found in abundance in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel, as well as in certain nuts and seeds, omega-3 fatty acids are known to prevent cardiovascular disease and contribute to the healthy development of the nervous system.
According to a new study, omega-3 fatty acids also play a vital role in lung health. This is what researchers at the Johns Hopkins Medicine School in the United States are highlighting. In their work published online in theAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, they claim that a diet rich in omega-3 would reduce asthma symptoms related to indoor pollution in children. These same works suggest that a diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids (very present in sunflower, corn, grapeseed and soybean oil) could however have the opposite effect and aggravate the symptoms of asthma by promoting inflammation.
Link between diet and asthma symptoms
Coming from sources such as cooking, household products, cigarette smoke, but also from humidity and the materials in which our homes are built, indoor pollution has long been identified as one of the triggers of childhood asthma. .
To measure its impact and determine the extent to which omega-3s could help reduce inflammation caused by asthma, the researchers followed 135 asthmatic children aged 5 to 12 and living in the city of Baltimore for 6 months. About a third of the children suffered from mild asthma, a third from moderate asthma and a third from severe asthma. Food was taken into account, as well as asthma symptoms and the use of an inhaler. The researchers also took blood samples to assess changes in markers of inflammation each time the participants completed the questionnaires. Finally, the levels of particles responsible for indoor pollution were measured each week in the homes of the young participants.
Omega-6s linked to worsening asthma symptoms
The study found that children who consumed more omega-3s were less likely to have asthma symptoms, even when air pollution increased to 10 micrograms of particles per cubic meter. On the contrary, the results showed that for each additional gram of omega-6 ingested, children were 29% more likely to be in a more severe asthma category. Children with a diet rich in omega-6 were thus more likely to present aggravated symptoms, without having been more exposed to indoor pollution. A higher amount of omega-6s in the diet was also associated with higher percentages of neutrophils, a type of white blood cells linked to inflammation in response to pollution.
For the researchers, these results are important because they show that the quality of the diet can influence the symptoms of asthma in children. According to them, many children in the United States have a diet that is too low in omega-3s, while consuming large amounts of foods rich in omega-6s, which is consistent with a typical American diet.
They also recognize that many places where low-income people live are food deserts, where healthy, omega-3-rich foods are very expensive. These food deserts are also areas where the majority of people affected by asthma reside. Therefore, according to the researchers, making access to healthy food a key step in reducing inequalities in health and in the fight against disparities, whether in Baltimore or elsewhere.
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