A Traditional Diet Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Eczema and Wheeze in Colombian Children

Abstract

Background: Diet might influence the risk of allergic diseases. Evidence from developing countries with high prevalence of childhood asthma is scant. Methods: Information on wheeze, rhinitis, and eczema was collected from 3209 children aged 6–7 years in 2005, who were taking part in the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) in Colombia. Intake frequency of twelve food groups was assessed. Associations between each food group and current wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema were investigated with multiple logistic regressions, adjusting for potential confounders. Simes’ procedure was used to test for multiple comparisons. Results: 14.9% of children reported wheeze in the last 12 months, 16% rhino-conjunctivitis, and 22% eczema. Eczema was negatively associated with consumption of fresh fruits and pulses three or more times per week (adjusted Odds ratio (aOR): 0.64; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.49 to 0.83; p value = 0.004; and aOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.80; p value < 0.001, respectively). Current wheeze was negatively associated with intake of potatoes (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.62, p value = 0.005), whilst this outcome was positively associated with consumption of fast food (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.35, p value = 0.001). These associations remained statistically significant after controlling for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: A traditional diet might have a protective effect against eczema and wheeze in Colombian children, whilst intake of fast foods increases this risk.

Is the consumption of fast foods associated with asthma or other allergic diseases?

“…The effect of different levels of fast food consumption on asthma/wheeze is shown in Table . The consumption of fast foods 1–2 times/week was associated with severe asthma (aOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.13) and current wheeze (aOR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03–1.11). The consumption of fast foods ≥3 times/week was associated with asthma ever (aOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08–1.87), severe asthma (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.23–1.46) and current wheeze (aOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16–1.28).…”

“…The consumption of fast foods 1–2 times/week was associated with severe asthma (aOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.13) and current wheeze (aOR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03–1.11). The consumption of fast foods ≥3 times/week was associated with asthma ever (aOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.08–1.87), severe asthma (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.23–1.46) and current wheeze (aOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16–1.28). The consumption of fast foods ≥3 times/week was associated with an increased risk of severe asthma (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.23–1.46 vs aOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.13; P < 0.001) and current wheeze (aOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16–1.28 vs aOR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03–1.11; P < 0.001) in comparison to consumption 1–2 times/week (Fig.…”

“…In terms of high or middle‐income countries, the consumption of fast foods was associated with current asthma in case–control studies and cross‐sectional studies (aOR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.17–2.13 and aOR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.00–2.11, respectively), severe asthma (aOR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.13) and wheeze ever (aOR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.07–2.52) in high‐income populations (Table S5 in Supplementary Information). In middle‐income countries, the consumption of fast foods was associated with current asthma (aOR: 2.89; 95% CI: 1.40–5.96) and current wheeze (aOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.30–2.34).…”

“…Hence, it has been hypothesized that the consumption of fast foods may exacerbate the development and progression of asthma and allergic diseases . However, the data available to date are heterogeneous, with some, but not all studies, reporting that asthma and allergic diseases are associated with the consumption of fast foods …”

The nutrition‐gut microbiome‐physiology axis and allergic diseases

“…251 Consumption of fruits and vegetables has also been associated with protection against eczema, whereby a traditional Columbian diet was negatively associated with the disease. 252 Contrastingly, consumption of Western fast food by both children and adolescents was associated with an increased risk of eczema and asthma, 51 further highlighting the detrimental impact of Western diet. Both probiotics and a combination of probiotics and prebiotics reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis, particularly with heterogenous mixtures of Lactobacillus species.…”