Antioxidants and Asthma Prevalence

A recent study published in the February 2004 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that children who are exposed to improved levels of dietary antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and selenium, have a lower risk of developing asthma later in life. Researchers from Cornell University analyzed the nutritional data of over 7,500 youth (4-16 years old) obtained from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results show that children with a greater dietary intake of beta-carotene had a 10% reduction in asthma risk, and children with a greater dietary intake of selenium were 20% less likely to develop asthma. Among children exposed to second-hand smoke, the risk reduction for beta-carotene and selenium was 40% and 50%, respectively. Higher doses of vitamin C showed similar results.