Positive Health Online

Abstract

FORASTIERE and colleagues, Department of Epidemiology, regional Health Authority, Lazio, Rome, Italy. oer.f.forastiere@agora.stm.it studied the consumption of fruit rich in vitamin C in relation to wheezing and other respiratory symptoms in Italian children.

Background

Methodology

The authors write that although a beneficial effect of fresh fruit consumption on lung function has been observed, the epidemiological evidence regarding the effect on respiratory symptoms and asthma is limited. The authors conducted cross sectional and follow-up studies of Italian children. Parents of 18,737 children aged 6-7 years living in northern and central Italy completed respiratory questionnaires. Winter consumption of citrus fruit and kiwi fruit by the children was categorized as less than once per week, 1-2 per week, 3-4 per week and 5-7 per week. A subset of 4104 children from two areas was reinvestigated after one year using a second parental questionnaire to record occurrence of wheezing symptoms over the intervening period.

Results

After controlling for confounders (sex, study area, paternal education, household density, maternal and paternal smoking, dampness or mould in the child's bedroom, parental asthma), intake of citrus fruit or kiwi fruit was a highly significant protective factor for wheeze in the last 12 months (odds ratio (OR) = 0.66) for those eating fruit 5-7 times per week compared with less than once per week, shortness of breath with wheeze (OR = 0.68), severe wheeze (OR - 0.59), nocturnal cough (OR = 0.73), chronic cough (OR = 0.75) and non-coryzal rhinitis (OR = 0.72). the follow-up study indicated that fruit intake recorded at baseline was a strong and independent predictor of all symptoms investigated except non-coryzal rhinitis. In most cases the protective effect was evident even among children whose intake of fruit was only 1-2 times per week and no clear dose-response relationship was found. The effect was stronger (but not significantly) in children with a history of asthma; those eating fresh fruit at least once per week experienced a lower one year occurrence of wheeze than those eating fruit less than once per week.

Conclusion

Although the effect of other dietary components cannot be excluded, it is concluded that consumption of fruit rich in vitamin C, even at a low level of intake, may reduce wheezing symptoms in childhood, especially among already susceptible individuals.

References

Forastiere F et al. Consumption of fresh fruit rich in vitamin C and wheezing symptoms in children. SIDRIA Collaborative Group, Italy (Italian Studies on Respiratory Disorders in Children and the Environment). Thorax 55(4): 283-8. Apr 2000.

Comment

The take-home message from this research is as clear-cut as can be - children eating fruit even only 1-2 times per week are at significantly less risk of developing respiratory and asthmatic symptoms. And we all thought that Italians ate loads of fruits and vegetables.