Dietary Arachidonic Acid, Obesity and Atopic Respiratory Disease

Obesity and Atopic-related Respiratory Disease: Possible Role of Dietary Omega 6 and 3 Fatty Acids

Epidemiological studies have shown obesity to be a risk factor of asthma. Research evidence of obesity and atopic(ie. allergic)-related respiratory diseases, has been less clear. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the relationship between obesity and atopic-related respiratory disease in premenopausal women is mediated by a dietary imbalance of omega 6 and 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Sixty young adult obese and non obese women, with, and without asthma, were studied using a cross-sectional design. Body composition was measured by plethysmography. A fasted blood sample was taken to measure: specific and total immunoglobulin (IgE) antibodies,biochemical markers of atopy; glucose and insulin to measure insulin sensitivity; estrogen(17β-estradiol) and sex hormone-binding globulin to measure estrogen status of the women; hormone-products of fat tissue ( leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukins (IL-6,IL-18), that have been associated with both obesity and immune processes involved in asthma and allergy. Dietary intake of omega 6: linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid(AA); and omega 3 fatty acids: α linolenic (ALA), eicosapentanoic (EPA) and docosahexanoic (DHA) and other nutrients were assessed by food frequency questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria:

• For asthmatics, only individuals that were willing and capable of not using asthma medications for two days prior to laboratory testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

• An individual was excluded from the study if she had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cigarette smoking, or eating disorders.
• Women that were pregnant or lactating.