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Published on: August 7, 2017
The Effects of Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Children with Asthma on the Modulation of Innate Immune
Banafsheh Hosseini1, Bronwyn S Berthon1, Megan E Jensen2
1Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.
Insights
A high fruit and vegetable diet reduced asthma exacerbations in children. This dietary intervention enhanced innate immune responses, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Nutritional Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma exacerbations in children are frequently triggered by viral infections.
- Dietary intake of fruits and vegetables (F&V), rich in carotenoids, may bolster innate immunity.
- Children with asthma often have low F&V consumption, potentially impacting immune function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of a high F&V diet on asthma exacerbations in children.
- To assess the impact of increased F&V intake on in-vitro immune responses in children with asthma.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month randomized controlled trial involving children aged 3-11 years with asthma and low F&V intake.
- Participants were assigned to either a high F&V diet or a control (usual diet) group.
- Outcomes measured included respiratory-related adverse events and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with rhinovirus-1B (RV1B), house dust mite (HDM), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Main Results:
- Fewer children in the high F&V diet group experienced two or more asthma exacerbations compared to the control group (63.6% vs. 88.0%, p = 0.049).
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interferon (IFN)-γ and IFN-λ production increased significantly in the high F&V group after 3 months.
- RV1B-induced IFN-λ production in PBMCs positively correlated with changes in plasma lycopene levels at 6 months.
Conclusions:
- A high F&V diet effectively reduced asthma-related illness in young children.
- Increased F&V intake modulated in-vitro cytokine production, enhancing innate immune responses.
- Dietary improvement through higher F&V consumption is a promising non-pharmacological strategy for asthma management.
Abstract:
Children with asthma are at risk of acute exacerbations triggered mainly by viral infections. A diet high in fruit and vegetables (F&V), a rich source of carotenoids, may improve innate immune responses in children with asthma. Children with asthma (3−11 years) with a history of exacerbations and low F&V intake (≤3 serves/d) were randomly assigned to a high F&V diet or control (usual diet) for 6 months. Outcomes included respiratory-related adverse events and in-vitro cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), treated with rhinovirus-1B (RV1B), house dust mite (HDM) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). During the trial, there were fewer subjects with ≥2 asthma exacerbations in the high F&V diet group (n = 22) compared to the control group (n = 25) (63.6% vs. 88.0%, p = 0.049). Duration and severity of exacerbations were similar between groups. LPS-induced interferon (IFN)-γ and IFN-λ production showed a small but significant increase in the high F&V group after 3 months compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Additionally, RV1B-induced IFN-λ production in PBMCs was positively associated with the change in plasma lycopene at 6 months (rs = 0.35, p = 0.015). A high F&V diet reduced asthma-related illness and modulated in vitro PBMC cytokine production in young children with asthma. Improving diet quality by increasing F&V intake could be an effective non-pharmacological strategy for preventing asthma-related illness by enhancing children’s innate immune responses.
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