The Effects of Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Children with Asthma on the Modulation of Innate Immune Responses.

Banafsheh Hosseini, Bronwyn S Berthon, Megan E Jensen, Rebecca F McLoughlin, Peter A B Wark, Kristy Nichol, Evan J Williams, Katherine J Baines, Adam Collison, Malcolm R Starkey, Joerg Mattes, Lisa G Wood

Journal: Nutrients 2022;14(15):3087

PMID: 35956264

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Abstract

Children with asthma are at risk of acute exacerbations triggered mainly by viral infections. A diet high in fruit and vegetables (F&V), a rich source of carotenoids, may improve innate immune responses in children with asthma. Children with asthma (3−11 years) with a history of exacerbations and low F&V intake (≤3 serves/d) were randomly assigned to a high F&V diet or control (usual diet) for 6 months. Outcomes included respiratory-related adverse events and in-vitro cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), treated with rhinovirus-1B (RV1B), house dust mite (HDM) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). During the trial, there were fewer subjects with ≥2 asthma exacerbations in the high F&V diet group (n = 22) compared to the control group (n = 25) (63.6% vs. 88.0%, p = 0.049). Duration and severity of exacerbations were similar between groups. LPS-induced interferon (IFN)-γ and IFN-λ production showed a small but significant increase in the high F&V group after 3 months compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Additionally, RV1B-induced IFN-λ production in PBMCs was positively associated with the change in plasma lycopene at 6 months (rs = 0.35, p = 0.015). A high F&V diet reduced asthma-related illness and modulated in vitro PBMC cytokine production in young children with asthma. Improving diet quality by increasing F&V intake could be an effective non-pharmacological strategy for preventing asthma-related illness by enhancing children’s innate immune responses.

Address: Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Department of Immunology and Pathology, Central Clinical School, Sub-Faculty of Translational Medicine and Public Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.; Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia.

DOI: 10.3390/nu14153087

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MeSH Terms: Asthma, Child, Child, Preschool, Diet, Fruit, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Interferons, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Lipopolysaccharides, Rhinovirus, Vegetables