The inflammatory potential of diet impacts the association between air pollution and childhood asthma

• DOI: 10.1111/pai.13185
• Publication Date: 2019-12-09T15:56:22Z
• Authors: Francisca de Cast...; Inês Paciência; João Cavaleiro Rufo; Diana Silva; Pedro Cunha; Mariana Farraia; Luís Delgado; Vanessa Garcia‐La...; Milton Severo; André Moreira; Pedro Moreira
• Keywords: Male; Allergy; Immunology; 610; CHILDREN; PM2.5; Pediatrics; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Air Pollution; Surveys and Questionnaires; 11. Sustainability; QUALITY; Humans; OXIDATIVE STRESS; Child; ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTATION; Inflammation; Air Pollutants; Science & Technology; Schools; Portugal; Health sciences, Medical and Health sciences; Ciências médicas e da saúde; school exposure; Environmental Exposure; asthma; Asthma; Diet; 3. Good health; indoor pollution; ENERGY-INTAKE; 1107 Immunology; 13. Climate action; Air Pollution, Indoor; Medical and Health sciences; dietary inflammatory index; 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine; Female; Particulate Matter; Ciências da Saúde, Ciências médicas e da saúde; Life Sciences & Biomedicine

AbstractBackgroundInhalation of fine particulate matter (PM) can cause systematic inflammation and oxidative stress, which may further aggravate the development and progression of asthma. Although nutritional intake of fatty acids and antioxidants may attenuate some effects of fine PM, the role of the inflammatory potential of diet has not been addressed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate possible modulatory effects of dietary inflammatory potential on the association between indoor air pollution and childhood asthma–related outcomes.MethodsIn a sample of 501 children (48.1% females, aged 7‐12 years) from 20 public schools located in Porto, Portugal, we evaluated airway reversibility, exhaled nitric oxide levels, atopy, and current respiratory symptoms. Dietary inflammatory index was calculated based on information collected through a reported 24‐hour recall questionnaire, and participants were categorized as having an anti‐inflammatory or pro‐inflammatory diet. Concentrations of indoor PM2.5 and PM10 were measured to assess indoor air quality. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the proportion of effects explained by the exposure to PM2.5 and PM10.ResultsAfter adjustment, the exposure effect of PM2.5 and PM10 levels on children with asthma was higher for those having a pro‐inflammatory diet (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.01‐2.21; and OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03‐1.68, respectively) compared to those having an anti‐inflammatory diet.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the quality of diet might affect the association between indoor pollution and asthma in children, highlighting the relevance of children's diet as a potential protective factor to pollutant exposure in childhood asthma.