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Cited by 152Asthma and respiratory diseasesChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ResearchNutritional Studies and Diet

Dietary influences on chronic obstructive lung disease and asthma: A review of the epidemiological evidence

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Smit, Henriette A., Grievink, Linda, Tabak, Cora·1999·Proceedings of The Nutrition Society
DOI 10.1017/s0029665199000427
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Abstract

The epidemiological evidence for a relationship between diet and indicators of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is evaluated. The review focuses on the intake of Na, n-3 fatty acids, and antioxidant vitamins as well as fruit and vegetables. Experimental studies suggest that a high-Na diet has a small adverse effect on airway reactivity in asthma patients. However, observational studies provide no clear evidence that high Na intake has adverse effects on airway reactivity or asthma symptoms in open populations. n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are present in fish oils, are metabolized into less broncho-constricting and inflammatory mediators than n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Studies in the general adult population suggest that a high fish intake has a beneficial effect on lung function, but the relationship with respiratory symptoms and clinically-manifest asthma or COPD is less evident. Also, experimental studies in asthma patients have not demonstrated an improvement in asthma severity after supplementations with fish oil. Several studies showed a beneficial association between fruit and vegetable intake and lung function, but the relationship with respiratory symptoms and the clinically-manifest disease was less convincing. A similar pattern was found for vitamin C in relation to indicators of asthma and COPD, but there are still conflicting results with respect to vitamin E and beta-carotene. In conclusion, the epidemiological evidence for a beneficial effect on indicators of asthma and COPD of eating fish, fruit and vegetables is increasing. However, the effectiveness of dietary supplementation in open-population samples is often not demonstrated. Several unresolved questions are raised, which should be addressed in future studies on the relationship between diet and respiratory disease.

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  • A number of epidemiological studies have shown beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids, vitamins, fruits, and vegetables on lung functions and the risk of COPD.

    “On the other hand, a number of epidemiological studies have shown the beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acids, vitamins, fruits and vegetables on lung functions and the risk of COPD [108,116,117,118,119,120,121,122].”

    From NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases (2015) · cites this paper as [121]

  • Recent experimental and epidemiological studies could not demonstrate a positive relationship between nitrate consumption and cancer risk, and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives concluded in 2008 that there was no evidence that nitrate was carcinogenic in humans.

    “However, recent experimental and epidemiological studies could not demonstrate a positive relationship between nitrate consumption and the risk of cancer [121,134], and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives concluded in 2008 that there was no evidence that nitrate was carcinogenic in humans.”

    From NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases (2015) · cites this paper as [121]

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Balmes J, Ngo L, Keogh J, Cullen M, Brodkin CA, Williams J, Redlich CA, Omenn G & Barnhart S (1998) Effect of supplemental β-carotene and retinol on rate of decline in lung function. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 157, A46 Abstr.
  2. Britton JR, Pavord ID, Richards KA, Knox AJ, Wisniewski AF, Lewis SA, Tattersfield AE & Weiss ST (1995) Dietary antioxidants on lung function in the general population. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 151, 1383-1387.
  3. Mohensin V (1987) Effect of vitamin C on NO 2 -induced airway hyperresponsiveness in normal subjects. American Review of Respiratory Disease 136, 1408-1411.
  4. Shahar E, Folsom AR, Melnick SL, Tockman MS, Comstock GW, Shimakawa T, Higgins MW, Sorlie PD & Szklo M (1994b) Does dietary vitamin A protect against airway obstruction? American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 150, 978- 982.

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Authors
Smit, H. A., Grievink, L., & Tabak, C.
Affiliations
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL)
Venue
Proceedings of The Nutrition Society
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
1999-05
Volume
58
Issue
2
Pages
309-319
ISSN
  • 0029-6651 (ISSN-L)
  • 1475-2719
DOI
10.1017/s0029665199000427
OpenAlex
W1979345635
Cited by
152
References
59
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 2860 d)
Locations
  • Proceedings of The Nutrition Society (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • Rivm Repository (Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
diet, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, sodium intake, omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, fish consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, antioxidant vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lung function, airway reactivity, dietary supplementation
MeSH terms
Adult, Antioxidants, Asthma, Diet, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Fruit, Humans, Lung Diseases, Obstructive, Sodium, Dietary, Vegetables, Vitamins

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