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Tuesday 15 January 2008

RAPID ROUNDUP - Mediterranean diet in pregnancy helps ward off childhood asthma and allergy – Australian experts respond

Mums to be who eat a Mediterranean diet while pregnant could help stave off the risks of asthma and allergy in their children, suggests research published today ahead of print in Thorax. Those mothers who closely followed the traditional Mediterranean diet were significantly more likely to have children free of asthmatic symptoms and allergies than those who ate a low quality Mediterranean diet.



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Associate Professor Vicki Clifton is the Deputy Director of the Mothers and Babies Research Centre and an NHMRC RD Wright Fellow at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital.

“A mother's diet is very important and what she eats before her pregnancy commences and then during pregnancy, can influence the future health of her child. From animal studies it is known that the consumption of the good foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and meat are beneficial for the growth of the baby in the uterus and for their future health. The presence of maternal obesity or anorexia, with the consumption of processed foods high in sugar and saturated fat are known to contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the children in later life.

These data indicate that changes in diet directly change how a baby grows and develops and subsequently influences their future health as children and adults. The study by Chatzi et al is a good example of how a mother's diet can influence the development of a child's immune system. This study provides evidence that high intake of foods containing antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids can be protective against the development of allergic diseases in childhood. So keep eating fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and meat and scrap processed foods!”

Professor Allan McLean is Mercy-Notre Dame Chair in Medicine and Associate Dean (Melbourne Clinical School).

“The article by Chatzi and Colleagues in Thorax provides important data indicating that exposure of a pregnant woman to the Mediterranean Diet can modify respiratory outcomes in the child is important in it’s own right. It represents a valuable contribution to the body of positive therapeutic outcomes with this dietary strategy.

One of single most valuable studies of nutritional intervention into human health is the Lyon Diet Heart Study. Patients aged up to 70 years of age were recruited after a first heart attack and prospectively randomized to one of two dietary arms. The active intervention arm involved a Mediterranean Diet closely based on the original Cretan form. The other study group were actively encouraged to undertake a 'prudent diet' under the supervision of their usual physician. The major outcome of interest and importance was a very large decrease in cardiac deaths and other cardiovascular deaths in the Mediterranean Diet group compared to the group assigned to conventional therapy.

Analyses established that the dietary effect was independent of other therapeutic mechanisms applied in the post-infarct follow-up, hence this is an additive mechanism for prevention and care of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Extensive longitudinal studies of dietary effect in older people have been made and analysed for the contribution of components of the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle factors on diverse health outcomes, including cancer rates. There is a remarkably consistent pattern of benefit across populations in Europe, USA and Australia.

In a recent American study the essence of the dietary measures were: vegetable intake (excluding potato), legume intake, fruit, nuts, whole grains, fish, oils, alcohol and meat intake. Lifestyle measurements concentrated on exercise patterns.

Favourable outcomes were associated with high intake of vegetables, fruit, nuts, whole grains, fish and monounsaturated oils (eg olive oil) sufficient to produce high ratios of mono-unsaturated : saturated fat ratios. Negative outcomes were associated with high intakes of meat and alcohol.Men who were highly compliant with the positive diet and lifestyle factors showed a reduction in 'all-cause mortality' of 21%, cardiovascular mortality by 22% and cancer mortality of 17%. The corresponding values in women were 20%, 19% and 12%. Smokers, and lean or overweight individuals showed the greatest benefit from compliance with the diet and lifestyle factors.

These examples of diverse benefit from the Mediterranean Diet and associated life-style factors represent compelling proof that dietary change and associated life-style change could improve the health of the Australian population across all age groups at very low cost.

Given the budgetary imperatives established by the Australian Treasury in the recent Intergenerational Report (2007) , this preventive strategy will be necessary to allow sustainability of Australian health services specifically, and public sector budgets generally."

For information on the traditional Mediterranean diet please click here.