The Planetary Health Diet and Its Association with Asthma and Airway Inflammation in School-Aged Children

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2024

Authors

Rodrigues, M. (Author) Other; Padrão, Patrícia (Author) FCNAUP; Castro Mendes, F. (Author) Other; Moreira, André (Author) FMUP; Moreira, Pedro (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: Nutrients

Vol. 16 No. 1709

Final page: 2241

ISSN: 2072-6643

Publisher: MDPI

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-010-XN0

DOI: 10.3390/nu16142241

Abstract (EN): <jats:p>Poor dietary choices have been rising concurrently with an increase in asthma prevalence, especially in children. Dietary indexes that simultaneously measure the healthiness and sustainability of dietary patterns have emerged to address the dual concerns of human and planetary health. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate adherence to a sustainable dietary pattern and its impact on airway inflammation and asthma. In this study, 660 school-aged children (49.1% females, 7¿12 years) were considered. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to assess the association between diet and asthma and airway inflammation according to overweight/obesity. Diet was evaluated through the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI). Higher scores represent a healthier and more sustainable diet. Three definitions of asthma were considered based on a self-reported medical diagnosis, symptoms, asthma medication, measured lung function, and airway reversibility. Airway inflammation was assessed by exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). We considered two categories of body mass index: non-overweight/non-obese and overweight/obese. The associations between diet with asthma and airway inflammation were estimated using adjusted binary logistic regressions. The odds of having airway inflammation decreased with the increase in PHDI score. Moreover, children in the non-overweight/non-obesity group in the fourth quartile of the PHDI had lower odds of having airway inflammation compared to children in the first quartile. Our study indicates that a healthier and sustainable diet is associated with lower levels of eNO, but only among children without overweight/obesity.</jats:p>

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific