Low Vitamin E Linked To Asthma

A new report, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, suggests that pregnant mothers should ensure that they get plenty of vitamin E during the first sixteen weeks of their pregnancy. Low levels during pregnancy increase the risk of asthma in the unborn child. The infants own nutrient intake did not seem alter the researchers findings.

Children born to mothers who had the lowest intake were over five times more likely to have asthma than peers whose mothers had the highest vitamin E intakes.  The University of Aberdeen are undergoing a study that links Vitamin E to the developing lung.

Lead researcher Dr Graham Devereux said vitamin E most likely had a dual effect - influencing both lung growth and airway inflammation.  Dr Devereux studied 2,000 pregnant women and their children over a five-year period.

Earlier research showed newborn babies of mothers with low vitamin E intakes had greater responses to dust mites and grass pollen. As their children reached two, they were also more likely to wheeze and have eczema than their peers.

Dr Devereux stressed: "Pregnant women should not take vitamin E just because of this study. They should eat a balanced, healthy diet. It is possible that declining intake of vitamin E in the last 50 years may have contributed to the increase in asthma in children," he said.

Over 1.1m children in the UK have asthma.It is the most common long-term condition among children in the UK. Dr Lyn Smurthwaite of Asthma UK said: "Eating a healthy, balanced diet at any time, but especially during pregnancy, makes sense and this study suggests simple modifications in a pregnant mother's diet may help protect her child from developing asthma by the age of five. Asthma UK is pleased to have funded this research which has the potential to provide a natural way of reducing childhood asthma."

Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, margarine, nuts and sunflower seeds.

Click here to read our article about Asthma in children

 

 

 

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