The role of high carbohydrate-rich food intake and severity of wheezing
exacerbation in children between 2 to 6 years aged.
Abstract
Introduction. Dietary habits in developing countries are characterized
in the last decades by low intake of fruits, vegetables, and high
consumption of sweetened drinks. Most of the evidence linking
carbohydrate intake and asthma comes from children over 6 years of age.
The aim of this study was to examine the association of macronutrient
intake with the severity of wheezing exacerbation in children aged 2 to
6 years Methods. We performed a prospective cohort study that included
all children aged 2 to 6 years hospitalized by a wheezing exacerbation
in two tertiary centers in Rionegro, Colombia. Dietary data were
collected using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) validated in the
Colombian population. Gina classification of acute wheezing in children
5 years and younger was to define the severity of the wheezing Results
During the study period, 228 cases of patients with wheezing
exacerbation were included. Wheezing severity was dose-dependently
associated with protein and carbohydrate-rich intake. The variables
included in the multivariable analysis included reactive C protein,
smoking at home, atopic dermatitis, protein, and carbohydrate-rich food
intake Conclusion High carbohydrate-rich food intake was associated with
severity of wheezing exacerbation adjusted by other known risk factors
such as atopic, smoking, and reactive C protein. Also, we found a
negative association of severity of wheezing exacerbation with high
protein-rich food intake adjusted by the factors mentioned above. This
evidence should motivate the development of public health policies to
control the consumption of sugar-rich products in children under 6 years
of age.