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Adiposity, asthma, and airway inflammation
Christene R McLachlan1, Richie Poulton, George Car
1Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|December 5, 2006
Summary
Obesity is linked to asthma and airflow obstruction in women, but not men. In men, lower body fat is associated with airflow obstruction and bronchodilator responsiveness.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Obesity is a known risk factor for asthma.
- The association between obesity and asthma is stronger in women than men.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) may be an unreliable measure of adiposity in men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body fat percentage and asthma.
- To examine the association between body fat percentage and airflow obstruction.
- To explore the link between body fat percentage and airway inflammation in both sexes.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort of approximately 1000 individuals at age 32 years was studied.
- Data collected included respiratory questionnaires, spirometry, bronchodilator response, exhaled nitric oxide, and body fat percentage via bioelectrical impedance analysis.
- Statistical analyses were performed to determine associations.
Main Results:
- Body fat percentage was significantly associated with asthma in women (P = .043) but not in men (P = .75).
- Airflow obstruction was linked to body fat percentage in women (P = .046) and inversely associated in men (P = .010).
- Bronchodilator responsiveness showed an association with lower body fat in men (P = .004), while airway inflammation was not associated with body fat in either sex.
Conclusions:
- Adiposity is associated with asthma and airflow obstruction in women, independent of airway inflammation.
- In men, airflow obstruction and bronchodilator responsiveness are linked to a lower percentage of body fat.
- Body fat percentage is a more relevant measure than BMI for assessing obesity-related respiratory conditions in women.
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