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Dietary phytochemical intake and asthma in children: a case-control study
Renpeng Jiang1, Weihong Liu1, Guangjun Wang2
1Department of Pediatrics, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, No. 11 Wuying Mountain Middle Road, Tianqiao District, Jinan City, 250031, Shandong Province, China.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|December 3, 2025
Summary
A diet rich in phytochemicals, measured by the Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI), is linked to reduced asthma risk and improved outcomes in children. Higher DPI correlates with lower inflammation and better asthma control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric allergy and immunology
- Nutritional science
- Inflammatory disease research
Background:
- Dietary patterns influence asthma risk and severity through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.
- Phytochemicals possess antioxidant and immune-modulating properties beneficial for managing childhood asthma.
- The Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) quantifies intake of phytochemical-rich foods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) and asthma-related outcomes in children.
- To evaluate the relationship between DPI and asthma severity, control, quality of life, and inflammation markers.
- To determine if higher DPI intake is linked to a lower prevalence of pediatric asthma.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 300 children (150 with asthma, 150 controls) aged 5-12 years.
- Dietary intake assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire to calculate DPI.
- Clinical outcomes measured by Pediatric Asthma Severity Score (PASS), Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ), and serum C-reactive protein (CRP).
Main Results:
- Children in the highest DPI tertile exhibited significantly lower CRP levels, higher PAQLQ scores, lower PASS scores, and higher C-ACT scores compared to the lowest tertile.
- Increased DPI was significantly associated with reduced inflammation (lower CRP), improved quality of life (higher PAQLQ), decreased asthma severity (lower PASS), and enhanced asthma control (higher C-ACT).
- The highest DPI tertile was associated with substantially lower odds of having asthma, even after adjusting for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Greater consumption of phytochemical-rich foods, as indicated by a higher DPI, is associated with a reduced likelihood of pediatric asthma.
- Higher DPI intake correlates with lower systemic inflammation and improved clinical outcomes in children with asthma.
- This study highlights the potential role of diet, specifically phytochemical intake, in the prevention and management of pediatric asthma.
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