[Clinical symptom relief in obese patients with persistent moderate asthma secondary to decreased obesity]

The prevalence of asthma and obesity has increased last years implying important economical and social consequences. A relationship between asthma severity and obesity grade has been found. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate if obesity decline has a beneficial impact on asthma severity.

To evaluate the effect of obesity decline on control symptoms and asthma severity.

Ninety-six patients with obesity and moderate chronic asthma were randomized to group A or B and were maintained for 40 days on a low calorie diet. At baseline and at the end of the study, symptoms, measurement of obesity, spirometry, inflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulin's levels were assessed. Diets' safety was evaluated based on laboratory test. Data were analyzed with Student's t test.

After 40 days on a low calorie diet, in group A, there were significant decreases of obesity (p < 0.001) and IgE, symptoms almost disappeared (cough persisted in 20%) and medication was suspended in 80%. Group B had obesity decline but IgE levels remained (> 100 UI/mL), symptoms and drug regimen remained unchanged. Both diets were not harmful for patients.

These results show that asthmatic obese patients maintained for 40 days on low calorie diet A, had obesity and IgE levels decrease and symptoms and asthma severity relief.