Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113593

Hsin-Jen Tsai, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Univeristy of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, SPH I, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, 734-9759873, hjtsai@umich.edu and Alan C. Tsai, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, 109 S. Observatory, M6218, SPH II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

A questionnaire adopted from the method of American Thoracic Society elicited experiences of asthma and ALS (asthma-like symptoms), dietary patterns and specific food-triggered cough or other respiratory symptoms (chest-tightness, wheezing and short breath) in 2290 5th grade schoolchildren. ALS included persistent cough, chest tightness, wheezing with cold, wheezing without cold, dyspnea-associated wheezing and exercise-induced cough or wheezing. Results showed that consumptions of organ meat and soft drinks were positively associated with three or more ALS (All P<0.05). Consumptions of seafood, dairy products, soybeans, and fruits were negatively associated with one ALS (all P<0.05). Consumptions of seafood and vegetables were negatively associated (P<0.05) with the rate of PDA (Physician-diagnosed asthma), while consumptions of dairy products, red/green vegetables and dessert were positively associated with the rate of PDA (P<0.05). Frequent consumptions of red/green vegetables and soft drinks were also positively associated with the rate of SA (suspected asthma, defined as having three or more ASL in past 12 months, or PDA). Among selected food items, coconut, mango, peanut, nuts, fish, shell-food, shrimp/crab, fried foods, cold foods, dairy products, chocolate and wheat were significantly associated with higher risks of cough or other respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren with PDA or SA (all P<0.05). Results suggest that consumptions of seafood, dairy products, and red/green vegetables are associated with both rates of ALS and PDA while the specific food items, such as mango and coconut, may increase the risk of cough or other respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren.

Learning Objectives:

• A survey study was conducted to evaluate the association of food categories and specific food items with asthma illness or asthma-like symptoms (ALS) in schoolchildren.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.