High Consumption of Margarine Linked to Ashma

A German study exploring a link of dietary intake and ashma risk found evidence that a high margarine intake increases the risk of ashma in adults. Specifically, the study investigates the link between the dietary intake of fatty acids, antioxidants, and selected food groups and ashma in adulthood. Participants of the study comprised a total of 105 newly physician diagnosed cases of ashma which were asked to complete a validated food frequency questionnaires.

Findings of the study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) included the following :

* A high margarine intake increased the risk of ashma in adulthood.
* While intake of oleic acid was positively associated with ashma , no significant association were found for the other dietary fatty acids.
* The dietary intake of antioxidants and their main food sources had no effect on ashma risk.