Associations of dietary patterns with asthma symptoms and severity in Finnish children

Abstract Background Several studies have reported associations between individual foods and asthma in children, with varying results. Less focus has been on overall diet, especially data-driven dietary patterns that take into account the variety and combinations of foods consumed together and may better describe real-life dietary habits. We aimed to identify dietary patterns among Finnish children and explore their associations with asthma-related symptoms and severity. Methods We used cross-sectional data from the DAGIS Next survey conducted in 2023. The sample included 207 children aged 11-14 years. Asthma symptoms and severity over the past 12 months were recorded using the ISAAC-based questionnaire. Food consumption data were collected with a 66-item food frequency questionnaire, from which dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Associations between dietary pattern scores and asthma outcomes were analysed by logistic regression models, adjusted for sociodemographics and several asthma risk factors. Results We identified two dietary patterns, together explaining 13% of the variation in food consumption: a ‘health-conscious’ pattern (high loadings for e.g. berries, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and poultry dishes); and a ‘meat and discretionary foods’ pattern (high loadings for e.g. sausage and meat dishes, fast foods, sweets, biscuits, sugar-sweetened drinks, and crisps and popcorn). Higher adherence to the ‘meat and discretionary foods’ pattern was linked to increased odds of nighttime dry cough (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.25-4.80). No significant associations were found between dietary pattern scores and wheezing, exercise-induced wheezing, or cortisone-treated asthma. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that children with unhealthier dietary habits may be more susceptible to nighttime dry cough. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm our observation and the potential role of dietary habits in children's asthma management. Key messages • A dietary pattern emphasising higher consumption of meat and discretionary foods was associated with increased odds of nighttime dry cough in children. • Our cross-sectional findings suggest that unhealthier dietary habits may contribute to asthma-related symptoms in childhood, highlighting the need for future longitudinal research.