Impact of Modified Specific Carbohydrate Diet on Bronchial Asthma Control in Children

Impact of Modified Specific Carbohydrate Diet on Bronchial Asthma Control in Children

The aim of this study will explore if the specific carbohydrate diet has an effect on asthma control in children and if it will affect the frequency, severity, and duration of asthma and thus provide it as a potential complementary treatment option for them.

This study will be carried out on 30 children with moderate persistent asthma presented to the outpatient clinic of the Pulmonology Unit, Pediatric Department, Tanta University Hospital.

All children at the start of the study will be subjected to full history taking including, full nutritional assessment, laboratory tests, Pulmonary function tests, and Anthropometric measurements

Inclusion Criteria:

• Asthmatic children with moderate persistent asthma according to the definition of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines, if they have daily symptoms, nighttime awakenings more than 1 time/week, but not nightly, daily use of short-acting beta-agonist for symptom control, some limitations of normal activities, and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)60-80%.
• Children aged from 6 to 18 years.
• The children are included only if parents and children are strongly motivated to try a dietary intervention (mSCD) as a complementary treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with chronic lung disease, immunodeficiency, major thoracic deformities, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, digestive, rheumatic, osteoarticular, or genetic syndromes or any adverse health conditions that can affect nutritional status were excluded from the study.
• Children excluded if parents and children are not motivated to try a dietary intervention (mSCD) as a complementary treatment or who failed to have regular outpatient follow-up visits.