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A new study from James Cook University suggests that fish could be the best prevention against asthma.
An innovative new study reveals that a diet rich in fish can help prevent asthma. Led by Professor Andreas Lopata of the Australian Institute of Health and Tropical Medicine (AITHM) of JCU, the study involved 642 people working in a fish processing plant in a small village in South Africa.
Fish breathing
"The incidence of asthma has almost doubled in the last 30 years and about half of asthma patients are not getting any benefit from the drugs available to treat it. There is therefore a growing interest in non-drug treatment options, "says Lopata.
About 334 million people in the world suffer from asthma and about 250,000 people die each year. In Australia, one in nine is asthmatic (about 2.7 million) and among native Australians, this rate is almost twice as high. According to Professor Lopata, researchers are currently considering the hypothesis that the rise in asthma could be related to current dietary changes.
"There is a growing consumption of what is called n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in vegetable oils and a decrease in the consumption of PUFA n-3, mainly in oils. marine. In a crude way, there has been a worldwide movement of fresh fish to fast food, "he said.
The village in question was chosen for the study because its population records high fish consumption and low socio-economic status. Overall, it is therefore likely that marine fish oils and other seafood are the main source of N-3 for people living in the area rather than supplements.
Some types of n-3 PUFAs, particularly those obtained from marine oils, were "significantly badociated" with a lower risk of developing asthma or symptoms similar to those in the US. Asthma, reported the team. Consumption of these compounds reduces by 62% the risk of asthma or asthma-like symptoms, while a high intake of PUFA n-6 – from </ strong> vegetable oils – increased the risk by 67%.
"Even if you take into account contaminants such as mercury present in some fish populations, the benefits of eating fish and seafood far outweigh the potential risks," said Professor Lopata.
The results are encouraging, he adds, but very early. Further research is needed to determine which specific types of n-3 PUFA are beneficial for asthma.aHow to best optimize their role. At the same time, we should also determine if it is possible to limit the negative effects of n-6, he added.
The document "Relationship between the parameters of omega-3 serum fatty acid and the effects of asthma" was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
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