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The incidence of asthma has nearly doubled in the past 30 years, and this may be due in part to changes in diet worldwide. There is increasing consumption of omega-6 poly-unsaturated fats found in vegetable oil and decreasing consumption of omega-3 found in marine oils. According to a new study, consuming more fish may help reduce the risk of asthma and asthma-like symptoms by up to 62%.
Participants in the study included 642 adults who worked in a fish processing factory in a small village in South Africa. The researchers used the European Committee Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire, skin prick tests, spirometry and methacholine challenge tests to determine incidence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms. Blood samples were analyzed to determine levels of omega-3s and omega-6s.
The researchers found that the prevalence of asthma symptoms was 11%, current asthma was 8%, and non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness was 26%. Participants with the highest serum levels of omega-3s from marine oils were found to have up to a 62% decreased risk of having asthma or asthma-like symptoms. Participants with the highest levels of omega-6s from vegetable oils were found to have up to a 67% increased risk of having asthma or asthma-like symptoms.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and James Cook University, Australia. It was published on December 25, 2018 in the journal Nutrients.