RATIONALE: Increased wheezing over recent decades has coincided with a reduction in the consumption of anti-oxidants (vitamins C, E and β-carotene). We investigated the association between dietary antioxidant intake and wheeze in a prospective birth cohort study at age 5-years.METHODS: Participants (n=690) completed a respiratory questionnaire and semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (Tinuviel software, UK) and were skin tested to common inhalant and food allergens.RESULTS: In the whole group, vitamin C and E intake were not associated with wheeze symptoms. Children with current wheeze had significantly lower β-carotene intake than non-wheezers (Mean 2.16mg, 95%CI 1.96-2.35 vs 2.38mg, 2.29-2.48; p=0.04). Significantly lower β-carotene intake was also found in children with wheeze with colds (2.10mg, 1.89-2.31 vs 2.39mg, 2.30-2.48; p=0.01) compared with non-wheezers.Amongst sensitised individuals (n=187), neither vitamin E nor β-carotene intake was associated with wheeze symptoms. However, atopic children with current wheeze had significantly lower vitamin C intake than non-wheezers (GM 97.0mg, 95%CI 85.6-109.8 vs 113.7, 105.1-123.0; p=0.04). When adjusted for gender, maternal asthma, maternal smoking and parental atopic status, current wheeze was still significantly associated with lower vitamin C intake (Adjusted GM 91.7mg, 95%CI 77.7-108.0 vs 107.2, 92.9-123.8; p=0.04). There was also a trend for lower vitamin C intake to be associated with wheeze with colds (97.8mg, 85.5-111.8 vs 112.5mg, 104.3-121.5; p=0.07).CONCLUSIONS: Low β-carotene intake was significantly associated with current wheeze in all children and low vitamin C intake was significantly associated with current wheezing in atopic children. Changes in dietary habit may have contributed to the rise in wheeze. RATIONALE: Increased wheezing over recent decades has coincided with a reduction in the consumption of anti-oxidants (vitamins C, E and β-carotene). We investigated the association between dietary antioxidant intake and wheeze in a prospective birth cohort study at age 5-years. METHODS: Participants (n=690) completed a respiratory questionnaire and semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (Tinuviel software, UK) and were skin tested to common inhalant and food allergens. RESULTS: In the whole group, vitamin C and E intake were not associated with wheeze symptoms. Children with current wheeze had significantly lower β-carotene intake than non-wheezers (Mean 2.16mg, 95%CI 1.96-2.35 vs 2.38mg, 2.29-2.48; p=0.04). Significantly lower β-carotene intake was also found in children with wheeze with colds (2.10mg, 1.89-2.31 vs 2.39mg, 2.30-2.48; p=0.01) compared with non-wheezers. Amongst sensitised individuals (n=187), neither vitamin E nor β-carotene intake was associated with wheeze symptoms. However, atopic children with current wheeze had significantly lower vitamin C intake than non-wheezers (GM 97.0mg, 95%CI 85.6-109.8 vs 113.7, 105.1-123.0; p=0.04). When adjusted for gender, maternal asthma, maternal smoking and parental atopic status, current wheeze was still significantly associated with lower vitamin C intake (Adjusted GM 91.7mg, 95%CI 77.7-108.0 vs 107.2, 92.9-123.8; p=0.04). There was also a trend for lower vitamin C intake to be associated with wheeze with colds (97.8mg, 85.5-111.8 vs 112.5mg, 104.3-121.5; p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Low β-carotene intake was significantly associated with current wheeze in all children and low vitamin C intake was significantly associated with current wheezing in atopic children. Changes in dietary habit may have contributed to the rise in wheeze.