Diet and Childhood Asthma

Abstract

Asthma is a multifactorial disease. The increasing incidence of asthma in the last 6 decades may be related to the changes in population dietary habits with eating fewer fruits and vegetables and more processed foods. Diet plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Poor nutrition could also increase the likelihood of having asthma symptoms. Inadequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy could adversely impact childhood respiratory health, particularly during critical periods of embryonic and fetal growth and could increase the risks of asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease, and impaired lung functions. There are some controversies about the protective effect of breastfeeding on asthma.