A clinical trial conducted at The University of Melbourne has indicated that having a diet high in fatty-fish would provide significant improvement to symptoms of childhood asthma.
The study followed 64 children aged 5 to 12 with mild asthma. The group was split with half adding 150 grams of cooked fatty-fish to their weekly diet, and the other following their normal routine. The trial showed significantly reduced bronchial inflammation for the first group following six months on the new diet.
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) eagerly welcomed the studies new findings. “We know these species of fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to help the reduction of symptoms for other inflammatory conditions like arthritis,” said SIA CEO Jane Lovell. “This new research shows what could be an easy, safe and effective way to reduce the symptoms of asthma in children.”
Childhood asthma is the leading respiratory disorder across the world, and lead researcher Maria Papamichael articulates the momentous impact healthy eating can have for these children. “Our study shows that eating fish just twice a week can significantly decrease lung inflammation in children with asthma,” declares Papamichael.
The study has been published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and adds to a growing body of research which indicates that a healthy diet, inclusive of seafood is a strong therapeutic option for sufferers of childhood asthma.
