Asthma has been growing by leaps and bounds the last couple of decades. So, scientists have been looking for answers as to why. Many theories have been proposed, including the modern Western diet, which tends to be lower in the intake of dietary antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, than in previous times.

One way we can test theories is to conduct research, but that can require a lot of time and resources. So, another way that scientists gather information is by studying the results of previous studies from a different perspective. Often, many different studies are analyzed. This is called a retrospective analysis.

This was the method used recently in a new study to try to gather information about diet and asthma risk. Here are the highlights:

• 10 studies involving 13,000 people were used
• Dietary vitamin intake was compared with asthma rates and lung function
• Analysis did not show a significant link between intake of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene and risk of developing asthma
• Higher intake of vitamin C DID seem to be linked to better lung function

Researchers concluded that modern diet did not appear to be a factor in the risk for developing the asthma. They went on to suggest that the importance of vitamins C & E to ameliorating or avoiding disease might have been inflated, and that other factors that are as yet unrecognized might actually be having a greater impact.

Learn More:

• Risk Factors for Asthma
• How Asthma Is Diagnosed
• Asthma Effects on Lungs