Authors: Miyamoto, S.¹; Miyake, Y.²; Sasaki, S.³; Tanaka, K.²; Ohya, Y.⁴; Matsunaga, I.⁵; Yoshida, T.⁵; Oda, H.⁵; Ishiko, O.⁶; Hirota, Y.¹; Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study Group,

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 11, Number 1, January 2007 , pp. 103-109(7)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: It remains controversial whether the intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish is preventive against asthma. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between fat and fish intake and the prevalence of asthma using baseline data from a prospective study.

DESIGN: The subjects were 1002 pregnant Japanese females. A diet history questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits. Current asthma and asthma after age 18 were defined as present if subjects had been treated with medications at some time in the previous 12 months and after reaching the age of 18, respectively.

RESULTS: Fish consumption was independently associated with a decreased prevalence of asthma after age 18 and current asthma. A significant inverse relationship was observed between the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and the prevalence of current asthma, but not asthma after age 18. Intake of total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, n-3 polyunsaturated and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, meat, eggs or dairy products was not evidently related to either outcome for asthma.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that fish consumption and the high ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake may be associated with a reduced prevalence of asthma in young female Japanese adults.

Keywords: asthma; cross-sectional study; fatty acids; fish; Japanese women

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Public Health, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan 2: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan 3: Nutritional Epidemiology Programme, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan 4: Division of Allergy, Department of Medical Specialties, National Centre for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan 5: Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan 6: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

Publication date: 2007-01-01

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