Fatty Foods Trigger Severe Asthma in Children, Study Shows

According to a recent study, consuming fatty foods could lead to a severe form of asthma in children. Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have pinpointed a chemical in processed foods that can cause inflammation of the airways, resulting in neutrophilic asthma - one of the most serious and difficult-to-treat types of the condition.

The analysis of patient data found that diets high in saturated fats were associated with neutrophilic asthma, even in children who were not obese. Further investigation revealed that stearic acid, often found in animal fat and processed foods, triggers a chain reaction in the lungs that causes inflammation. Conversely, oleic acid - a fatty acid commonly found in vegetable oils, particularly olive oil - has the opposite effect and can suppress inflammation.

More than 5 million Britons currently have asthma, with 200,000 suffering from the severe form of the condition. Experts estimate that around 15% of these patients have neutrophilic asthma, which is characterized by the immune system overreacting and filling the lungs with inflammatory white blood cells called neutrophils.

Researchers believe that dietary modifications may help manage this specific asthma subtype. "Different treatments may be needed depending on the subtype of asthma," says study co-author Professor Lisa Young, a paediatric specialist at the University of Pennsylvania. "These findings are encouraging because they suggest that targeted dietary changes may help to prevent this asthma type."