April 26, 2007 – Rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, the Mediterranean diet would help prevent allergic rhinitis in children.
A team of researchers conducted a study among 700 Cretan children aged 7 to 18 years old. They wanted to know why in some rural Mediterranean regions, such as the island of Crete, Greece, allergic rhinitis and asthma-related symptoms are rare in children, while they are common elsewhere in Europe.
According to their hypothesis, the Mediterranean diet would have a protective effect on children’s health. Their results showed that a daily and high consumption of fruits, vegetables and nuts was a preventive factor against allergic rhinitis. The Mediterranean diet would also have had, to a lesser extent, a preventive effect on symptoms related to asthma – more particularly wheezing – and on immediate allergic reactions (atopy).
Fruits and vegetables
In particular, red grapes, oranges, apples and fresh tomatoes are said to have a protective effect against allergic rhinitis and wheezing. Of all these foods, red grapes appear to be the most effective in preventing allergic rhinitis. Its high content in antioxidants would be the cause, in particular oligo-proanthocyanidins which would be anti-inflammatory.
The majority of the children ate a diet that moderately or greatly approximated the Mediterranean diet. According to the results, 80% of the children ate fruit, and 68% ate vegetables, at least twice a day.
Nuts and sources of fat
Children who ate nuts at least three times a week were less likely to wheeze. The magnesium in nuts may prevent asthma-like symptoms and improve lung capacity, and the vitamin E they provide protects cells against free radicals.
Even though olive oil is the main source of fat consumed in Crete, children who consumed margarine more than once a week would be more at risk of suffering from allergic rhinitis or of wheezing.
Claudia Morissette – HealthPassport.net
1. Chatzi L, Apostolaki G, et al. Protective effect of fruits, vegetables and the Mediterranean diet on asthma and allergies among children in Crete, Thorax. 2007 Apr 5.
