Dietary patterns and risk of developing asthma among pre-schoolers

Abstract

BackgroundEarly childhood dietary patterns have been identified as potential factors that can influence the development of asthma in children. The objective of the study was to determine the association between dietary patterns, identified through PCA, and asthma in pre-schoolers. MethodsThis unmatched case-control study used data from 3 145 pre-schoolers participating in the parent population-based observational study conducted in a District Municipality, Province. The study consisted of 189 pre-schoolers (63 with asthma, 126 controls) between 1 and 8 years. We identified primary dietary patterns by conducting a PCA on reported food consumption data from the Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ). Multivariate logistic regression models determined the relationship between food patterns and asthma. ResultsThe results of our study identified four primary dietary patterns that defined the dietary preferences of the pre-schoolers: Meat general and dressings pattern, Healthy dietary pattern, Sugary and /or sweetened drinks pattern, and Mixed dietary pattern. The consumption of sugary and sweetened drinks, (adjusted OR 7.0, 95% CI: 2.3-21.1-1; p=0.00) as well as a Mixed dietary pattern, (adjusted OR 4.0, 95% CI: 1.4-11.1; p=0.03) were positively associated with a higher probability of developing asthma. A Healthy dietary pattern (adjusted OR 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00-0.09; p=0.00) was negatively associated with an increased likelihood of presenting with asthma. ConclusionsIn the current study, a Healthy dietary pattern was negatively associated with an increased likelihood of presenting with asthma. Diet modification may be a potential intervention to impact the increasing prevalence of this disease.