Milk Consumption and Respiratory Function in Asthma Patients: NHANES Analysis 2007-2012.

Stefanie N Sveiven,Corrine Hanson,Tara M Nordgren,Jihyun Ma,Elizabeth Lyden,Rachel Bookman

doi:10.3390/nu13041182

Abstract

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma prevalence has steadily risen since the 1980s. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we investigated associations between milk consumption and pulmonary function (PF). Multivariable analyses were performed, adjusted for a priori potential confounders for lung function, within the eligible total adult population (n = 11,131) and those self-reporting asthma (n = 1,542), included the following variables: milk-consumption, asthma diagnosis, forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC%-predicted (%), forced expiratory volume in one-second (FEV1), FEV1% and FEV1/FVC. Within the total population, FEV1% and FVC% were significantly associated with regular (5+ days weekly) consumption of exclusively 1% milk in the prior 30-days (β:1.81; 95% CI: [0.297, 3.325]; p = 0.020 and β:1.27; [0.16, 3.22]; p = 0.046). Among participants with asthma, varied-regular milk consumption in a lifetime was significantly associated with FVC (β:127.3; 95% CI: [13.1, 241.4]; p = 0.002) and FVC% (β:2.62; 95% CI: [0.44, 4.80]; p = 0.006). No association between milk consumption and FEV1/FVC was found, while milk-type had variable influence and significance. Taken together, we found certain milk consumption tendencies were associated with pulmonary function values among normal and asthmatic populations. These findings propound future investigations into the potential role of dairy consumption in altering lung function and asthma outcomes, with potential impact on the protection and maintenance of pulmonary health.

Highlights

The global burden of pulmonary disease and chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) in particular, are indicated by the financial costs of billions of dollars and in the cost of life by premature mortality of those diagnosed [1,2]
Asthma has been on the rise across the world [30], and dietary modification is a viable option for reducing incidence of respiratory diseases like asthma
Our findings suggest that milk consumption may be an autonomous factor that individuals can modify to benefit lung health outcomes with consumption reducing instances of current asthma reports in those with and without a history of asthma

Summary

Introduction

The global burden of pulmonary disease and chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) in particular, are indicated by the financial costs of billions of dollars and in the cost of life by premature mortality of those diagnosed [1,2]. As the devastating impacts of COVID-19 have taken hold this past year, we will likely see increased burden of chronic respiratory disease secondary to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis, for years to come [3]. One such CRD, asthma, is often a challenge to control as environmental triggers are typically unavoidable. Airway remodeling which may result from chronic, uncontrolled asthma, increases the risk of emphysema and chronic bronchitis These pulmonary diseases result in increased risk in developing either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), another burdensome CRD that is among the top 5 leading causes of death globally, or asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) [4,5]. Asthma remains incurable, and individuals with moderate to severe asthma are reliant upon pharmaceutical intervention to preserve a semblance of normalcy until supportive means that are more accessible and/or a cure are identified [10,11]

Methods

Results

Conclusion