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Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and inflammatory markers in children with asthma

Konstantinos Douros1, Maria-Ioanna Thanopoulou1, Barbara Boutopoulou1

  • 1Children's Respiratory and Allergy Clinic, 3(rd) Dept of Paediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" General University Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Allergologia Et Immunopathologia
|July 8, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The Mediterranean diet (MD) may influence asthma by altering inflammatory markers in children. Higher adherence to MD correlated with specific cytokine levels in asthmatic children, suggesting a modulatory role.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Growing evidence suggests the Mediterranean diet (MD) benefits asthma symptom control.
  • Asthma pathogenesis involves inflammatory mediators like interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-17.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and serum cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-33, IL-17) in children.
  • To investigate if MD adherence impacts key inflammatory pathways in pediatric asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Serum levels of IL-4, IL-33, and IL-17 were measured in 44 asthmatic and 26 healthy children (ages 5-15).
  • Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED) score.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in KIDMED scores was observed between asthmatic and healthy children.
  • In asthmatic children only, KIDMED scores showed significant correlations with IL-4, IL-33, and IL-17 levels.
  • Specifically, higher MD adherence was linked to lower IL-4 and IL-17, and higher IL-33 in asthmatic participants.

Conclusions:

  • The Mediterranean diet (MD) appears to modulate key inflammatory mediators involved in pediatric asthma.
  • Findings suggest MD may play a role in the inflammatory processes underlying asthma in children.
Keywords:
AsthmaChildrenIL-17IL-33IL-4KIDMEDMediterranean diet

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