Relationship of fish and cod oil intake with adult asthma

Authors: Laerum, B. N.; Wentzel-Larsen, T.¹; Gulsvik, A.; Omenaas, E.; Gíslason, T.²; Janson, C.³; Svanes, C.

Source: Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Volume 37, Number 11, November 2007 , pp. 1616-1623(8)

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Abstract:

Summary Background

A diet rich in fish or cod oil might possibly reduce the risk for asthma and atopic diseases. However, previous studies show conflicting results and no studies have assessed the potential long-term effects of childhood fish intake on adult asthma. Objective

To investigate whether childhood and adult fish and cod oil intake was related to adult asthma. Methods

In a large population-based study, Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE), 16 187 subjects aged 23-54 years answered a postal questionnaire. The relations of fish and cod oil intake with asthma symptoms and asthma were analysed using multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses, with adjustment for gender, adult hayfever, smoking, age, body mass index, household size, dwelling, parental education and centre, and for maternal smoking and family history of hayfever and asthma in a subsample (n=2459). Results

Subjects from Iceland and Norway reported much more frequent intake of fish both in childhood and adulthood as compared with subjects from Sweden, Estonia and Denmark. Current fish intake less than weekly in adults was associated with more asthma symptoms, while more frequent fish intake did not appear to decrease the risk further. No dose-response association was found between childhood fish intake and adult asthma, but those who never ate fish in childhood had an increased risk for asthma and earlier asthma onset. Adult consumption of cod oil had a u-shaped association with asthma, with the highest risks in those taking cod oil never and daily. Conclusion

A minimum level of weekly fish intake in adulthood was associated with protection against asthma symptoms in this large North-European multi-centre study. Subjects who never ate fish in childhood were at an increased risk for asthma. Both indicate a possible threshold effect of fish on asthma.

Keywords: adult asthma; childhood; cod oil; fish; RHINE

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2007.02821.x

Affiliations: 1: Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, 2: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland and 3: The Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Akademiska Sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden

Publication date: 2007-11-01

Relationship of fish and cod oil intake with adult asthma

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