engleski

Significance of nutrition in respiratory allergic diseases: a review of scientific knowledge

A significant increase in the occurrence of allergic respiratory diseases has been perceived in the world in the last several decades. One of the presumed causes of this phenomenon is the contemporary altered dietary pattern. Many studies investigated the possible inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects of various nutrients in the pathophysiology of respiratory allergies. Recent epidemiological studies reported an association between a high intake of omega-6 and a low intake of omega-3 PUFA-s with the elevated prevalence of respiratory allergies. Omega-6 PUFA-s are precursors of strong inflammatory mediators which promote allergic inflammation, whereas metabolites of omega-3 PUFA-s are weak inflammatory mediators. However clinical trials of omega-3 supplementation failed to show substantial beneficial results. A high dietary intake of salt could have a bronchoconstrictive effect in the pathogenesis of asthma, whereas magnesium is considered to act bronchodilatatively, yet however most research in asthmatic patients has not proven these proposed impacts. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, A, flavonoides, isoflavones and some trace elements (selenium, zinc, manganese, copper) are relevant in diminishing oxidative stress. Despite epidemiological and some clinical evidence of a protective antioxidant effect against the development of respiratory allergies, interventional studies mainly have not confirmed significant benefit of antioxidant supplementation therapy. Due to many controversial scientific evidence regarding the possibility of preventing and treating respiratory allergies with a modified diet there is a need for further research in this field.

antioxidants; flavonoids; inflammatory mediators; polyunsaturated fatty acids; trace elements; vitamins

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