Dietary Patterns in Relation to Asthma and Wheeze Among Adolescents in a South African Rural Community

Funzani Rathogwa-Takalani (), Thabelo Rodney Mudau, Sean Mark Patrick, Joyce Shirinde and Kuku Voyi
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Funzani Rathogwa-Takalani: Department of Advanced Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
Thabelo Rodney Mudau: Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Sean Mark Patrick: School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Joyce Shirinde: School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Kuku Voyi: School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Background: The rise of asthma prevalence in recent decades has been attributed to changes in dietary patterns, especially in developing countries. Studies have also suggested that dietary patterns play an important role in both asthma development and management. This study aimed to investigate the association between consumption of various foods and environmental factors with asthma and wheeze among adolescents. Methods: A self-administered standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, respiratory health, exposure to air pollution, and diet on n = 2855 adolescents residing in Vhembe District, South Africa. Results: The prevalence of asthma and wheeze were 18.91% and 37.69%, respectively. Consuming various foods such as fast foods (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.06–1.88), bread (OR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.45–1.81), pasta (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.06–1.84), seafood (OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 0.65–1.24), and nuts (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.65–1.12) were significantly associated with asthma in the crude logistic regression analysis. Further analysis in the multiple regression model indicated a strong association of asthma with consumption of nuts (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.11–2.17), seafood (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.03–2.49), and cereal (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45–0.99). In relation to wheeze, consumption of meat (red) (OR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60–0.99) was a protective factor in the crude analysis. The multiple logistic regression model showed that, seafood (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59–0.96), fruit (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32–0.94), nuts (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.50–2.66), and olive oil (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.09–2.00) were significantly associated with wheeze. Conclusion: Diet plays a major role in respiratory health, especially in asthma and wheeze. Dietary changes may play a role in reducing the burden of asthma and other respiratory symptoms in adolescents.

Keywords: asthma; wheeze; dietary patterns; adolescents; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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