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Cured meat intake is associated with worsening asthma symptoms

Zhen Li1,2,3, Marta Rava1,4, Annabelle Bédard1,2

  • 1INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases. Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif, France.

Thorax
|December 22, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Higher cured meat consumption is linked to worsening asthma symptoms in adults. Body mass index (BMI) partially mediates this diet-asthma link, highlighting dietary impacts on respiratory health.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Cured meat intake is a known carcinogenic factor, potentially increasing COPD risk.
  • The association between cured meat consumption and asthma exacerbation is not well-established.
  • The mediating role of body mass index (BMI) in the diet-asthma relationship requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cured meat intake and worsening asthma symptoms in adults.
  • To examine the potential mediating role of BMI in the diet-asthma symptom association.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the French prospective EGEA study (2003-2013).
  • Applied mediation analysis using a marginal structural model (MSM) in a counterfactual framework.
  • Assessed the direct effect of cured meat intake (servings/week) on asthma symptom change and the indirect effect via BMI.

Main Results:

  • A significant direct effect of higher cured meat intake (≥4 servings/week) on worsening asthma symptoms was observed (OR=1.76).
  • An indirect effect mediated by BMI was also found (OR=1.07), accounting for 14% of the total effect.
  • 20% of participants reported worsening asthma symptoms over a 7-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • Increased cured meat intake is associated with the worsening of asthma symptoms in adults.
  • BMI partially mediates the relationship between cured meat consumption and asthma symptom exacerbation.
  • Dietary patterns, including cured meat intake, significantly impact adult asthma management.
Keywords:
AsthmaAsthma Epidemiology

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