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Fatty acid levels and risk of asthma in young adults
Citation
Woods, RK and Raven, JM and Walters, EH and Abramson, MJ and Thien, FCK, Fatty acid levels and risk of asthma in young adults, Thorax, 59, (2) pp. 105-110. ISSN 0040-6376 (2004) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1136/thorax.2003.009498
Abstract
Background: There is current interest in the possible protective effect of long chain (n-3) fatty acids from fish in chronic lung diseases such as asthma. The aim of this community based cross sectional study was to determine whether plasma long chain (n-3) fatty acids, as a measure of dietary intake, differed between 1601 young adults with and without asthma. Methods: Subjects of mean (SD) age 34.6 (7.1) years completed a detailed respiratory questionnaire, food frequency questionnaire, skin prick testing, and lung function tests including methacholine challenge test for bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) and had venous blood taken for analysis of plasma fatty acids. Plasma fatty acid levels (%) were analysed using multiple logistic regression with alternative definitions of asthma and atopy as the outcomes. Results: Atopy was not associated with any plasma fatty acid. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6:n-3 ratio were not consistently associated with asthma or atopy. The n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid dihomo γ-linolenic acid (DHGLA) was positively associated with current asthma (OR= 1.30, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.60), asthma (OR= 1.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.60), and doctor diagnosed asthma (OR= 1.25, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.48). Conclusion: Plasma n-3 fatty acids are not associated with a reduced risk of asthma or atopy among young adults. The association of DHGLA with asthma warrants further research to determine a cause-effect relationship.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology |
Research Field: | Respiratory Diseases |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) |
Objective Field: | Respiratory System and Diseases (incl. Asthma) |
Author: | Walters, EH (Professor Haydn Walters) |
ID Code: | 30758 |
Year Published: | 2004 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 47 |
Deposited By: | Medicine (Discipline) |
Deposited On: | 2004-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2005-04-22 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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