HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kelly, Y. Articles by Marmot, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kelly, Y. Articles by Marmot, M.

Nutrition and respiratory health in adults: findings from the Health Survey for Scotland

International Centre for Health and Society, Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK

CORRESPONDENCE: Y. Kelly, International Centre for Health and Society, Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health, Royal Free and University College Medical School, 1–19 Torrington Place, London, WCIE 6BT, UK. Fax: 44 2078130280. E-mail: y.kelly@public-health.ucl.ac.uk

Keywords: antioxidants, diet, pulmonary function, respiratory symptoms

Received: June 28, 2002
Accepted December 2, 2002

The 1995 Health Survey for Scotland was funded by the Scottish Office. Y. Kelly is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, A. Sacker and M. Marmot are funded by the Medical Research Council.

There is a growing body of evidence to support the hypothesised links between consumption of antioxidant rich foods and the occurrence of obstructive airway disease. The main research question was to examine the relationships between two types of dietary exposure and two indicators of respiratory morbidity in Scottish adults.

The relationships between dietary consumption of fruit, vegetables and fish, and plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E and ß-carotene, and pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁)) and symptoms (phlegm production and shortness of breath with wheezing), were examined in a random population sample of adults.

A dose/response relationship was found between fruit consumption and pulmonary function. In comparison with eating fruit rarely or never, eating fruit at least once per day, 1–6 times per week, and 1–3 times per month were associated with differences of 132, 100 and 63 mL in FEV₁, after adjustment for known confounders and dietary intake of vegetables and fish (n=6186). An sd score change in plasma vitamin C was associated with a 49 mL difference in FEV₁ (n=930). Fruit and vitamin E were associated with a reduced prevalence of phlegm production for 3 months or more per year.

The most beneficial combination of dietary components may be found in natural foodstuffs, particularly fresh fruit.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S Allen, J R Britton, and J A Leonardi-Bee Association between antioxidant vitamins and asthma outcome measures: systematic review and meta-analysis Thorax, July 1, 2009; 64(7): 610 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. W. Fogarty, M. Antoniak, A. J. Venn, L. Davies, A. Goodwin, N. Salfield, J. R. Britton, and S. A. Lewis A natural experiment on the impact of fruit supplementation on asthma symptoms in children Eur. Respir. J., March 1, 2009; 33(3): 481 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Guenegou, J. Boczkowski, M. Aubier, F. Neukirch, and B. Leynaert Interaction between a Heme Oxygenase-1 Gene Promoter Polymorphism and Serum -Carotene Levels on 8-Year Lung Function Decline in a General Population: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (France) Am. J. Epidemiol., January 15, 2008; 167(2): 139 - 144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Varraso, R. Jiang, R. G. Barr, W. C. Willett, and C. A. Camargo Jr. Prospective Study of Cured Meats Consumption and Risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Men Am. J. Epidemiol., December 15, 2007; 166(12): 1438 - 1445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Varraso, T. T Fung, F. B Hu, W. Willett, and C. A Camargo Prospective study of dietary patterns and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among US men Thorax, September 1, 2007; 62(9): 786 - 791. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Varraso, T. T Fung, R G. Barr, F. B Hu, W. Willett, and C. A Camargo Jr Prospective study of dietary patterns and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among US women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2007; 86(2): 488 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Burns, D. W. Dockery, L. M. Neas, J. Schwartz, B. A. Coull, M. Raizenne, and F. E. Speizer Low Dietary Nutrient Intakes and Respiratory Health in Adolescents Chest, July 1, 2007; 132(1): 238 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Guenegou, B Leynaert, I Pin, G Le Moel, M Zureik, and F Neukirch Serum carotenoids, vitamins A and E, and 8 year lung function decline in a general population. Thorax, April 1, 2006; 61(4): 320 - 326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Romieu, R Varraso, V Avenel, B Leynaert, F Kauffmann, and F Clavel-Chapelon Fruit and vegetable intakes and asthma in the E3N study Thorax, March 1, 2006; 61(3): 209 - 215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Tujague, M. Bastaki, N. Holland, J. R. Balmes, and I. B. Tager Antioxidant intake, GSTM1 polymorphism and pulmonary function in healthy young adults Eur. Respir. J., February 1, 2006; 27(2): 282 - 288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Myint, R. N. Luben, P. G. Surtees, N. W. J. Wainwright, A. A. Welch, S. A. Bingham, N. J. Wareham, N. E. Day, and K-T. Khaw Respiratory function and self-reported functional health: EPIC-Norfolk population study Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2005; 26(3): 494 - 502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]