Voeding van tieners en
luchtwegenproblemen?*
Uit een studie blijkt dat voeding met weinig antioxidanten en ontstekingsremmende nutriënten zorgt voor ademhalingsproblemen zoals hoesten, ontstekingen van de luchtwegen en astma bij tieners. In het onderzoek werden ruim tweeduizend studenten van 17-18 jaar onderzocht. Gekeken werd naar
ademhalingsproblemen in relatie tot de inname van groenten en fruit, de vitamines
C, E en
bètacaroteen en de ontstekingsremmende nutriënten zoals retinol en
omega-3 vetzuren. Een derde van de tieners had overgewicht, 10% nam dagelijks multivitamines terwijl 72% deze nooit nam, 25% was roker, en slechts 30% van de tieners at dagelijks de aanbevolen hoeveelheden groenten en fruit. Weinig fruit per dag betekende een fors grotere kans op symptomen van
chronische bronchitis, terwijl weinig omega-3 vetzuren behalve een fors grotere kans op deze symptomen een nog veel grotere kans op
astma betekende. Bij de rokers is de hoeveelheid vitamine C en E die ingenomen wordt belangrijk om de symptomen van chronische bronchitis te kunnen verminderen.
Adolescents with ‘unhealthy’ diet have poor respiratory health
Adolescents with low dietary intakes of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory micronutrients have poor lung function and an increased burden of respiratory symptoms, report US researchers in the journal
Chest.
“Our study, as well as other research, suggests that higher intakes of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory micronutrients are associated with lower reports of cough, respiratory infections, and less severe asthma-related symptoms,” said lead author Jane Burns (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts).
She added: “Teenagers who have low dietary intakes of fruit, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids are at greater risk of asthma, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet, composed of whole foods.”
Burn’s team looked at the association of dietary factors with respiratory health in 2112 students in the 12th grade (age 17-18 years) in 13 communities in the USA and Canada during the 1998 to 1999 school
year.
The students completed a standardized respiratory questionnaire, based on that of the American Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Diseases, and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire focusing on intake of antioxidant foods (fruit, vegetables) and micronutrients (vitamins C and E and β-carotene) and nutrients with effects on cell function and inflammatory processes (retinol and n-3 fatty
acids).
“Although our diet survey targeted eating habits only during the past year, it did give us some idea of the teens’ general past diet,” Burns noted. “However, their current respiratory health may be a reflection of diet during childhood, as well as during the past
year.”
The majority of the participants were White, one-third were overweight, and approximately one-tenth consumed daily multivitamins, while the majority (72%) consumed no multivitamins. Nearly a quarter were smokers and at least one-third consumed below the recommended levels of fruit, vegetables, vitamins A and E, β-carotene, and omega-3 fatty
acids.
A low fruit intake (less than 0.25 servings a day) was associated with decreased FEV1 (-1.3% of predicted) and increased likelihood of chronic bronchitis symptoms (odds ratio [OR]=1.36) compared with a higher intake.
Meanwhile, a low dietary n-3 fatty acid intake (less than 22 mg per day) was associated with an increased likelihood of chronic bronchitis symptoms (OR=1.37), wheeze (OR=1.34) and asthma (OR=1.68), compared with consuming 22 mg or more daily.
Observed associations of vitamins C and E with chronic bronchitis symptoms modified the effects of smoking. For example, ORs associated with smoking were greater among those in the lowest quintiles of dietary vitamin C and E intake than in the upper four quintiles
combined.
“I wish we could say that an apple a day can keep asthma away, but it’s a complex disease with a genetic component. However, it may be that certain foods can lessen or prevent asthma symptoms,” Burns
said.
“The most important thing to remember is that diet can have a significant impact on teens’ respiratory health. I would encourage them to make healthy eating a part of their daily routine, and stress to them that smoking is bad.”
Mark Rosen, President of the American College of Chest Physicians, commented: “A balanced diet is not only good for lung health, but for general health. Parents and physicians should work together to monitor and maintain healthy diets and lifestyles for children of all ages.”
Chest 2007; 132: 238-245 (Augustus 2007)
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