J Nutr Health.  2020 Aug;53(4):406-415. 10.4163/jnh.2020.53.4.406.

Association of fruit and vegetable consumption with asthma: based on 2013–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Kim Ek
• Ju SY

• KMID: 2506202
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2020.53.4.406

Abstract

Purpose
This study examined the association of fruit and vegetable consumption with asthma in Korean adults.
Methods
Data on 16,528 adults aged 19–64 were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The general characteristics of the subjects, daily food intake, and daily energy and nutrients intake were investigated according to fruit and vegetable consumption. All statistical analyses were conducted based on SAS software version 9.4.
Results
The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was 2.6%, and ranged between 1.8% and 3.1% depending on fruit and vegetable consumption. As fruit and vegetable consumption increased, the individuals showed a higher average age and household income, but a lower educational level, smoking rate, and frequency of alcohol consumption. The group with higher fruit and vegetable consumption had higher intakes of all food groups without milk and dairy products and energy and nutrients than the counterpart group. For the intake rate of energy, the group with higher consumption of fruit and vegetables had a higher intake rate of carbohydrate and protein and a lower intake rate of fat. The risk rate of asthma with the third quartile group regarding fruit and vegetable consumption was 35%–40% lower than that of the first quartile group.
Conclusion
The results suggest that adequate consumption of fruit and vegetable will help to improve the risk of asthma. Moreover, prospective cohort studies and clinical test research are necessary to measure the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on the occurrence of asthma.

Keyword

fruit; vegetable; asthma; adult