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| health information | health news

Mediterranean diet may prevent asthma and allergies in children

13 April 2007

Key facts - asthma
Asthma is a condition in which the airways become irritated and inflamed. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. These symptoms tend to be variable and may stop and start. It is a common condition affecting 1 in 10 children in the UK.

Key facts - allergic rhinitis
There are two main types of allergic rhinitis, seasonal and perennial. Both cause symptoms such as sneezing, a blocked or runny nose and itchy eyes. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is an allergic reaction to pollen. Symptoms are usually suffered during the pollen season. In the UK this starts in June and continues until mid-August. Perennial allergic rhinitis is an allergic reaction to other allergens, such as dust mites, cat or dog hairs and moulds. Symptoms are experienced all year round.

The research, published in Thorax, looked at almost 700 school children (aged 7 to 18 years) in rural areas of Crete, Greece. This small Mediterranean island was chosen for two reasons. Firstly, its inhabitants are known for eating a mainly Mediterranean diet. Secondly, atopy (a predisposition to develop allergies) is fairly common in children living in rural Crete but asthma and rhinitis symptoms are rare.

The results show that eating a largely Mediterranean diet has a protective effect on allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms in children. This may be due to the amount of anti-oxidants contained in these foods. It is thought that during childhood the growth of airways are vulnerable to free radicals which can cause damage to airway cells. Anti-oxidants are known to "mop up" free radicals, therefore, a diet high in anti-oxidants may have a protective effect.

Grapes were found to be particularly effective in protecting against wheezing and allergic symptoms. This may be due to the high levels of antioxidants in the grape skin.

Nuts were also found to be important, especially in protecting against wheezing symptoms. The vitamin E contained in nuts helps the body defend itself against cell damage caused by free radicals. Also, the high magnesium content in nuts has been shown to be protective against asthma symptoms.

Adversely, margarine was found to increase the risks of asthma and rhinitis symptoms. It is thought that the polyunsaturated fatty acids found in margarine can worsen symptoms.

Leanne Male, assistant director of research at Asthma UK commented: "The results demonstrate that the Mediterranean diet, which traditionally contains higher levels of fresh fruit and vegetables, can have a beneficial effect on asthma symptoms in children."

Q and A section

What foods are included in a Mediterranean diet?

A traditional Mediterranean diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables, as well as bread and cereals (mainly wholegrain), legumes and nuts. The main source of fat is olive oil.

What is atopy?

Atopy is not an illness; it is an inherited condition which makes it more likely that an individual will develop an allergic disorder. It tends to run in families. However, not everyone who is atopic will go on to develop an allergic disorder.

What are anti-oxidants and free radicals?

Anti-oxidants are substances that are thought to "mop up" molecules called free radicals in the body. Free radicals are produced by the body's normal chemical reactions. Free radicals are thought to damage body cells, which may lead to the development of diseases such as cancer. So mopping up free radicals may stop the damage they cause.