Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Oct 21;13(11):3708.
doi: 10.3390/nu13113708.

Pediatric Obesity-Related Asthma: The Role of Nutrition and Nutrients in Prevention and Treatment

Valeria Calcaterra  1   2 , Elvira Verduci  2   3 , Michele Ghezzi  2 , Hellas Cena  4   5 , Martina Chiara Pascuzzi  2 , Corrado Regalbuto  6 , Rossella Lamberti  2 , Virginia Rossi  2 , Matteo Manuelli  5 , Alessandra Bosetti  2 , Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti  2   7
Affiliations
Review

Pediatric Obesity-Related Asthma: The Role of Nutrition and Nutrients in Prevention and Treatment

Valeria Calcaterra et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Childhood obesity rates have dramatically risen in numerous countries worldwide. Obesity is likely a factor in increased asthma risk, which is already one of the most widespread chronic respiratory pathologies. The pathogenic mechanism of asthma risk has still not yet been fully elucidated. Moreover, the role of obesity-related inflammation and pulmonary overreaction to environmental triggers, which ultimately result in asthma-like symptoms, and the importance of dietary characteristics is well recognized. Diet is an important adjustable element in the asthma development. Food-specific composition of the diet, in particular fat, sugar, and low-quality nutrients, is likely to promote the chronic inflammatory state seen in asthmatic patients with obesity. An unbalanced diet or supplementation as a way to control asthma more efficiently has been described. A personalized dietary intervention may improve respiratory symptoms and signs and therapeutic response. In this narrative review, we presented and discussed more recent literature on asthma associated with obesity among children, focusing on the risk of asthma among children with obesity, asthma as a result of obesity focusing on the role of adipose tissue as a mediator of systemic and local airway inflammation implicated in asthma regulation, and the impact of nutrition and nutrients in the development and treatment of asthma. Appropriate early nutritional intervention could possibly be critical in preventing and managing asthma associated with obesity among children.

Keywords: asthma; children; diet; nutrients; nutrition; obesity; pediatrics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adipose tissue and obesity-related inflammation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The multifactorial role of obesity in the asthma.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mediterranean diet and Western diet.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Factors implicated in asthma prevention and treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Health Organization Child Growth Standards. [(accessed on 28 September 2021)]. Available online: https://www.who.int/toolkits/child-growth-standards.
    1. Ferrante G., La Grutta S. The Burden of Pediatric Asthma. Front. Pediatr. 2018;6:186. doi: 10.3389/fped.2018.00186. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Nunes C., Pereira A.M., Morais-Almeida M. Asthma Costs and Social Impact. Asthma Res. Pract. 2017;3:1. doi: 10.1186/s40733-016-0029-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Forno E., Celedón J.C. Health Disparities in Asthma. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2012;185:1033–1035. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201202-0350ED. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Asthma Data, Statistics, and Surveillance. [(accessed on 28 September 2021)];2016 Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_data.htm.