Fish could help reduce asthma symptoms: Study

Washington: Including fish - such as salmon, trout and sardines - in diet could reduce the symptoms of asthma in children.

The findings of the clinical trial, led by La Trobe University, have been published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

The international study found children with asthma, who followed a healthy Mediterranean diet enriched with fatty fish, had improved lung function after six months.

Lead researcher Maria Papamichael said the findings added to a growing body of evidence that a healthy diet could be a potential therapy for childhood asthma.

"We already know that a diet high in fat, sugar and salt can influence the development and progression of asthma in children and now we have evidence that it's also possible to manage asthma symptoms through healthy eating," Papamichael said.

"Fatty fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties. Our study shows eating fish just twice a week can significantly decrease lung inflammation in children with asthma."

Co-researcher, Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, said the results were promising.

"Following a traditional Mediterranean diet that is high in plant-based foods and oily fish could be an easy, safe and effective way to reduce asthma symptoms in children," Professor Itsiopoulos said.

"Asthma is the most common respiratory disease in young people and one of the leading reasons for hospitalisations and trips to emergency for children," Associate Professor Erbas, who co-supervised the trial, said. "Unfortunately, the rate of asthma worldwide remains high. It is imperative that we identify new therapies that we can use alongside conventional asthma medications."