What Are the Effects of a Mediterranean Diet on Allergies and Asthma in Children?

Overview

Journal Front Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2017 May 10

PMID 28484688

Citations 28

Authors

Jose A Castro-Rodriguez

Luis Garcia-Marcos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This review updates the relationship between the adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) assessed by questionnaire and asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic eczema in childhood. It deals with the effect of MedDiet in children on asthma/wheeze, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis/eczema, and also with the effect of MedDiet consumption by the mother during pregnancy on the inception of asthma/wheeze and allergic diseases in the offspring. Adherence to MedDiet by children themselves seems to have a protective effect on asthma/wheezing symptoms after adjustment for confounders, although the effect is doubtful on lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. By contrast, the vast majority of the studies showed no significant effect of MedDiet on preventing atopic eczema, rhinitis, or atopy. Finally, studies on adherence to MedDiet by the mother during pregnancy showed some protective effect on asthma/wheeze symptoms in the offspring only during the first year of life, but not afterward. Very few studies have shown a protective effect on wheezing, current sneeze, and atopy, and none on eczema. Randomized control trials on the effect of the adherence to MedDiet to prevent (by maternal consumption during pregnancy) or improve (by child consumption) the clinical control of asthma/wheezing, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis are needed.

Citing Articles

Adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet and in association with asthma and wheezing in schoolchildren: A cross-sectional study.

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The Early Appearance of Asthma and Its Relationship with Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Review.

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Physical Health-Related Quality of Life in Relation to Mediterranean Diet Adherence in a Sample of Greek Asthma Patients: A Pilot Study.

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The Effect of Dietary Components of the Mediterranean Diet on Food Allergies: A Systematic Review.

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Life Course of Asthma.

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PMID: 37464116 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32259-4_3.

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