The effects of increasing fruit and vegetable intake in children with asthma: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate whether a high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet, rich in antioxidants, could reduce asthma exacerbations and improve lung function in children with asthma.
Results Summary
The study found that while the high F&V diet increased plasma carotenoids, it did not significantly affect asthma exacerbation rates. However, per-protocol analysis suggested potential improvements in lung function and systemic inflammation markers.
Population
Children aged 3-11 years with asthma, a history of exacerbations, and low usual F&V intake (≤3 serves/day).
Effective Dosage
Increased F&V intake by ~3.5 serves/day (intervention vs. control).
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | decrease | asthma exacerbations | adults | - | reduces | #1 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | increase | F&V intake | children (aged 3-11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake | 3.5 serves/day | increased | #2 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | increase | plasma total carotenoids | children (aged 3-11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake | 0.44 µg/ml | increased | #3 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | no change | time to first exacerbation | children (aged 3-11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake | HR: 0.81 | were similar | #4 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | no change | exacerbation rate | children (aged 3-11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake | IRR: 0.84 | were similar | #5 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | increase | airway reactance z-scores | children (aged 3-11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake | - | increased | #6 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | no change | asthma exacerbations | children with asthma | - | did not affect | #7 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | increase | lung function | children with asthma | - | improving | #8 |
high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet | decrease | systemic inflammation | children with asthma | - | protecting against | #9 |
BACKGROUND: A high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet reduces asthma exacerbations in adults; this has not been examined in children to date. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a 6-month, high F&V diet on the time to first asthma exacerbation in children with asthma, in a parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial. METHODS: Children (aged 3-11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake (≤3 serves/day) were randomized to the intervention (high F&V diet) or control group (usual diet) for 6 months. The primary outcome was time to first exacerbation requiring medical intervention. Secondary outcomes included exacerbation rate, lung function, plasma TNF-α, CRP, and IL-6, faecal microbiota and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and G-protein coupled receptor (GPR) 41/43 and HDAC (1-11) expression. RESULTS: 67 children were randomized between September 2015 and July 2018. F&V intake (difference in change (∆): 3.5 serves/day, 95% CI: [2.6, 4.4] p < 0.001) and plasma total carotenoids (∆: 0.44 µg/ml [0.19, 0.70] p = 0.001) increased after 6 months (intervention vs control). Time to first exacerbation (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: [0.38, 1.69], p = 0.569; control vs. intervention) and exacerbation rate (IRR: 0.84, [0.47, 1.49], p = 0.553; control vs. intervention) were similar between groups. In per-protocol analysis, airway reactance z-scores increased in the intervention versus control group (X CONCLUSION & CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A high F&V diet did not affect asthma exacerbations over the 6-month intervention, though warrants further investigation as a strategy for improving lung function and protecting against systemic inflammation in children with asthma.