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A six-month study conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers on children in Baltimore City added that the increased presence of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet reduced the number of asthma symptoms caused by indoor air pollution. The same study suggests that higher amounts of omega-6 dietary fatty acids could have the opposite effect and be badociated with more severe asthma.
The researchers explain the results of the study, published online March 29 American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, suggest that families and health professionals could protect children from the harmful effects of indoor air pollution by having them eat more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and reducing foods high in omega-6 fatty acids, such as soybean oil and corn oil in their diet. In the end, school meal policy changes could play a role in bringing these nutrients into diets.
"Our group is working on ways to reduce indoor air pollution levels in homes in the city of Baltimore," said Emily Brigham, MD, MHS, lead author of the study and badistant professor. of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "The results are promising, but we do not want to stop there."
Indoor air pollution, especially from cooking, cleaning activities (sweeping) and cigarette smoke, is a known trigger for asthma symptoms. Earlier work by the research group has shown that indoor air pollution levels, particularly the airborne particles in Baltimore City homes, often exceed acceptable quality standards for their home. outside air established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Brigham notes that it is becoming increasingly evident that diet, especially the levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, can play a role in respiratory health by changing the way the diet works. body reacts and treats the inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in abundance in fish, some nuts and some seeds, are considered healthy in part because they reduce inflammation. Other studies have shown that omega-6 fatty acids, found mainly in vegetable oils (notably corn, soybean, safflower and sunflower), have mixed effects on health, but could potentially favor # 39; ignition. As asthmatic children are already subject to inflammation and respiratory symptoms, the researchers hypothesized that omega-3 and omega-6 consumption could be related to the severity of asthma and how children responded to air pollution at home.
The new study involved 135 children with asthma aged 5 to 12 years. Ninety-six percent of the children were African American and 47% were girls. About one-third of children had mild, one-third moderate and one-third severe asthma. The researchers defined the severity of asthma based on the guidelines of the National Education and Asthma Prevention Program, which take into account the symptoms, the use of asthma and the use of asthma. Inhalers and the ability of the lungs to exhale by force. As a rule of thumb, the more the symptoms are numerous, the more severe the use of drugs and the deterioration of lung function, the more severe the asthma. The diet, asthma symptoms (recorded daily) and the use of inhalers (also recorded daily) were reported by participants and caregivers in children. surveys of one week each at the time of registration, then three and six months. The researchers also took blood samples to evaluate changes in inflammation markers each time the participants completed the surveys.
During each evaluation week, participants' home equipment measured two levels of air pollution: particles with a diameter equal to or less than 10 micrometers (one sixth of the width of a hair or less) and particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns. and smaller. When inhaled, the larger particles are usually deposited along the airways, while the smaller ones can penetrate farther into the lungs and reach the tiny pockets of air. Both sizes, although invisible to the naked eye, have been badociated with asthma symptoms in children and adults. The average concentration for the smallest particles in children's homes was 26.8 micrograms per cubic meter (the annual EPA standard for outdoor air was 12 micrograms per cubic meter) and the concentration average for the range including the largest was 39 micrograms per cubic meter.
The study found that for every additional gram of omega-6 intake, the odds for children to be in a more severe asthma category were 29% higher. Each additional gram of omega-6 in the diet was badociated with a 2% increase in the probability of daytime symptoms in response to an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of small particle pollution (essentially, children who consumed more omega-6s were more numerous). likely to show symptoms even at the same level of exposure to pollution). The results were similar for pollution by larger particles and for the results of nocturnal symptoms and the use of inhalers. A greater amount of omega-6 in the diet was also badociated with higher percentages of a type of white blood cell badociated with inflammation, neutrophils, in response to pollution.
Conversely, with each 0.1 gram increase in omega-3 dietary levels reported in the survey, researchers found a 3 to 4% less likely diurnal asthma symptom occurrence. in response to a 10 microgram increase in air pollution of both sizes. per cubic meter (basically, children who consumed more omega-3s were less likely to exhibit symptoms even at the same level of exposure to air pollution).
The researchers noted that the changes they used for omega-6s compared to omega-3s were 10 times greater. The investigators said it was intentional, according to the dietary recommendations suggested by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for children. The USDA recommends omega-3 levels of 0.9 to 1.6 grams per day (equivalent to a salmon portion of about 3 ounces) and omega-6 levels of 10 to 16 grams. grams per day (equivalent to those of about 3 grams or half a tablespoon of soybean oil, which many fast-foods use to fry their foods).
The researchers say that many children in the United States, including those in Baltimore City, where they did the research, have a diet that radically overrides national guidelines. The diet includes low amounts of foods rich in omega-3 and higher amounts of foods rich in omega-6, which corresponds to a typical American diet. Researchers recognize and recognize that many places where low-income people live are food deserts that do not have access to healthy foods, and that foods rich in omega-3s may be more expensive. If the diet has a direct impact on the health of asthma, the removal of these barriers will be a critical step in reducing health inequities and addressing the disparities between asthma in asthma and asthma. Baltimore and elsewhere. Brigham said, "Among populations known to be disproportionately affected by asthma, we can find that the combined improvement in diet and air pollution has the greatest impact on health."
Since the study used a diet badessment questionnaire, completed by children and caregivers, the researchers acknowledged that reporting errors were possible, one of the main limitations of studies on food. However, the researchers used a questionnaire designed for residents of Baltimore City, hoping to capture relevant and current local foods and limit this problem.
As this new study was based on observations rather than a randomized controlled trial, the researchers stated that it did not prove the cause-and-effect relationship between fatty acids and the severity or symptoms of it. asthma. It is possible that other factors have contributed to the relationship between fatty acids and asthma.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease badociated with inflammation and narrowing of the airways. It causes symptoms such as wheezing, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath and coughing. According to the EPA, 6.1 million children in the United States suffer from asthma and the average annual medical cost is about $ 983 per child. In particular, indoor environmental triggers such as dust mites, molds, badroaches, pet dander and second-hand smoke can aggravate the symptoms of asthma.
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This study was funded by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (P50ES018176 of Hansel and P01ES018176, P50ES015903 and K24ES021098 of Diette); NIH National Center for the Advancement of Translational Sciences (grant number KL2TR001077 in Brigham); and EPA (agreement number 83615201 and 83451001 with Hansel).
The news release is amended from a press release prepared by the American Thoracic Society.
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