An antioxidant-rich diet can have a positive impact on pediatric asthma management. That claim comes from researchers in Thailand, who recently published their study, “Effectiveness of an Antioxidant-Rich Diet on Childhood Asthma Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” in BMC Nutrition.
The randomized, controlled trial, which took place from October 2021 to May 2022, aimed to assess whether supplementing usual asthma care with antioxidant-rich foods could improve clinical outcomes and pulmonary function in asthmatic children. The study evaluated 81 children with mild-to-moderate asthma. Of the total, 33 children (control group) received usual asthma care, while 48 children (experimental group) received tomato juice and mixed fruit juice in addition to usual care for an eight-week period.
The study measured various outcomes, including Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) scores, Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) results and serum antioxidant levels (lycopene, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid).
Here’s what researchers discovered:
- Improved asthma control and quality of life: The experimental group showed significant improvements in ACT scores and PAQLQ total scores compared to the control group.
- Increased beta-carotene levels: Serum beta-carotene levels increased significantly in the experimental group after the eight-week intervention.
- No significant changes in other measures: The amount and frequency of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) dose usage, PFT results and serum lycopene or ascorbic acid levels did not show significant differences between the two groups over the study period.
- Good compliance and low side effects: Participants in the experimental group showed good compliance with the fruit juice consumption and experienced low undesirable effects.
Researchers said the study suggests that an antioxidant-rich diet, specifically tomato juice and mixed fruit juice, may serve as a beneficial adjuvant therapy to regular asthma care in children. The favorable palatability and low side effects of the juices make them a promising addition to asthma management.
