A high quality Mediterranean diet during pregnancy can help in putting off the risk of asthma and allergy in children.
Washington, Jan 15: A high quality Mediterranean diet during pregnancy can help in putting off the risk of asthma and allergy in children.
A study examined 468 mother and child pairs, who were followed up from pregnancy up to 6.5 years after the birth.
The mothers were then asked to complete food frequency questionnaires here they were asked about their dietary intake during pregnancy and what their children were eating by the time they were 6 years old. They also provided details of their children's respiratory and allergic symptoms, and those with persistent wheezing and allergic reactions.
Around 13 pct children had persistent wheezing, while 17 pct responded positively to skin test allergens and 6pct had asthma-like symptoms plus positive skin test results.
One in every three mothers ate a low quality Mediterranean diet during pregnancy while the rest ate a high quality diet.
It was found that children's diet at the age of 6.5 years had a little impact on their risks of asthmatic symptoms or allergy.
Those who closely followed the traditional Mediterranean diet of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, fish, dairy products and olive oil were significantly more likely to have children free of asthmatic symptoms and allergies than those who ate a low quality Mediterranean diet.
The diet consisting vegetables more than eight times a week, fish more than three times a week, and legumes more than once a week, seemed more protective than the other.
ANI