Fast food favors asthma and hay fever

Fast food as a trigger of allergic diseases

02/12/2013

Fast food is known to be unhealthy and yet consumption in modern industrialized nations has been rising for decades. Now scientists have around Professor Gabriele Nagel and Dr. med. Gudrun Weinmayr from the Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry at the University of Ulm found out that certain foods could promote the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, hay fever or allergic itchy rash.

As part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), researchers surveyed more than 319,000 adolescents from 51 nations aged 13 to 14 about their eating habits and potential illnesses. For another 181,000 six- to seven-year-olds from 31 nations, the parents filled out the questionnaire, according to the announcement of the University of Ulm. Based on the data obtained, the scientists have now investigated possible relationships between the increased incidence of allergic diseases and fast food consumption. "For several decades, we have seen an increase in diseases such as asthma, hay fever or rashes in industrialized nations," explained Prof. Nagel. Meanwhile, in the less developed countries, an accumulation of these health problems can be observed. "We ask for causes. Among other things, the consumption of fast food increased during the same period, "says the Ulm scientist.

Fast food not only makes you fat but also sick
Fast food dishes such as French fries, hamburgers or chicken wings "not only make children and adolescents fat but also potentially ill", reports the University of Ulm in its press release on the new findings of Nagel, Weinmayr and colleagues. In the context of their investigation, the researchers had taken into account, above all, foodstuffs "which in previous study phases had been estimated to be asthma-promoting or inhibiting, such as meat, vegetables and fruits, potatoes, pasta, margarine, hamburgers and other fast food." information about the sporting activities of young people and their television consumption. Among the participating elementary students, the researchers also asked about the educational level and a possible nicotine consumption of the mothers.

The data analysis has shown that with at least three fast food consumption per week, the "risk of developing severe asthma, hay fever or allergic skin rashes increases significantly," according to the announcement of the University of Ulm. The connection could be proven for both examined "age groups and genders as well as for many examined world regions". In the interview with "Deutschlandfunk", Prof. Nagel stated that the concrete analysis shows that "the frequent or regular consumption of fast food is associated with allergies, even with stronger allergies and also with asthma, but also with stronger symptoms of asthma "As the cause of this extremely negative effect of the fast food diet on health, the epidemiologist calls" in addition to high levels of saturated fat, sugar, carbohydrates, sodium and possibly preservatives "the trans fatty acids in fast food. "Especially for trans-fats, which are also found in margarine, for example, a connection with asthma and allergies is assumed," continues Prof. Nage.

Fruits and vegetables can protect
However, the researchers not only found evidence of the harmful effects of fast food consumption, but also discovered a way to reduce the risk of allergic disease through the diet. If the fast food dishes lead to an increased occurrence of allergic symptoms, such as runny nose, cough or rash, a high fruit and vegetable consumption can counteract the allergic diseases, reports the University of Ulm. "A pleasing result of the study was that just as the picture for fast food showed, the frequent or regular consumption of fruit or vegetables can protect against asthma or allergies," explained Prof. Nagel in an interview with "Deutschlandfunk "And added," It was also a very clear and consistent result in all regions of the world studied. "Scientists suspect that the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables inhibit the allergic reaction and prevent diseases such as asthma.

Whether fast food is actually responsible for the worldwide increase in allergic diseases can not be clearly confirmed by the current study of Ulm scientists. However, the links between fast food consumption and the spread of allergies identified by ISAAC are very conspicuous and confirm the assumptions made in earlier studies that have already identified an increased risk of allergy to regular consumption of fast food. The way in which fast food leads to an increased risk of allergic diseases must now be clarified in further studies. (Fp)

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