Does diet modify the effects of air pollution on lung function? A large cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Respiratory Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Air pollution and diet are known to impact lung health.
• The potential interaction between air quality and dietary habits on respiratory function requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine if a healthy diet modifies the association between air pollution exposure and lung function in adults.
• To investigate the role of specific dietary components, like fruit intake, in this interaction.

Main Methods:

• Utilized UK Biobank data from 260,982 participants, linking air pollution levels (NO2, PM10, PM2.5) to residential addresses.
• Calculated a healthy diet score (HDS) based on baseline dietary data and assessed lung function via spirometry.
• Investigated effect modification by HDS and fruit intake on air pollution's impact on FEV1 and FVC.

Main Results:

• Higher HDS was associated with better lung function (FEV1, FVC) in both males and females.
• No significant interaction was found between overall HDS and air pollution.
• Suggestive evidence indicated that higher fruit intake may mitigate the negative effects of PM2.5 on FEV1 and FVC in females.

Conclusions:

• Higher fruit consumption may offer partial protection against the adverse effects of air pollution on female lung function.
• These findings suggest a potential dietary intervention strategy for air pollution-related respiratory issues.
• Further validation in diverse cohorts is recommended to confirm these results.