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September 20-22, 2017 | Toronto, Canada
10
TH
AMERICAN PEDIATRICS HEALTHCARE &
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONGRESS
Pediatric Healthcare & Pediatric Infections 2017
T
here is a general consensus that the global allergy
epidemic in children is attributed to a changing
environment including lifestyle and diet that is high in
omega 6 fatty acids and low in omega 3 fatty acids. It has
been postulated that omega 3 fatty acids may modulate the
development of IgE mediated allergic disease and regulate
immune responses. This is the first clinical trial to investigate
fatty fish (in the context of the Greek Mediterranean diet)
as an adjunct therapy for paediatric asthma. Children aged
5-12 years with doctor-diagnosed ‘mild asthma’ were
recruited from a paediatric asthma clinic in Athens, Greece
and randomized into two groups. The intervention group is
instructed to consume two serves of fatty fish per week (at
least 150 g cooked fish/serve) for six months and the control
group, their usual diet. Questionnaires were used to collect
information on medical, dietary, socio-demographic, asthma
control and quality of life. Spirometry (FEV1) and exhaled
nitric oxide (eNO) analysis were used to evaluate pulmonary
function. Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern
was assessed using the KIDMED score. Seventy-two children
(54.2% boys, 45.8% girls) were successfully recruited. At
baseline, 56.94% are ‘normal’ weight, 27.78% ‘overweight’
and 11.11% ‘obese’ according to the Hellenic Paediatric
Growth Charts. In conclusion, children suffering with
asthma might be at higher risk of becoming overweight
and this in turn may affect asthma symptoms. Clinicians
should recommend the importance of healthy eating in
the prevention and management of overweight issues in
paediatric asthma.
Speaker Biography
Maria Michelle Papamichael is a Registered Dietician who has dedicated her life
in educating people about the importance of good nutrition and exercise in the
prevention and management of disease as well as in improving health and well-being.
Being an asthma sufferer since childhood has motivated her to undertake a PhD
Research Project at La Trobe University to investigate the prophylactic potential of a
Mediterranean diet enriched with fatty fish in the management of asthma in children.
e:
sassipap@hotmail.comCan dietary Omega 3 fatty acids reduce asthma symptoms in children? Preliminary results of a
randomized controlled trial
Maria Michelle Papamichael
1
, Charis Katsardis
2
, Dimitris Tsoukalas
3
, Bircan Erbas
1
and
Catherine Itsiopoulos
1
1
LaTrobe University, Australia
2
National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
3
European Institute of Nutritional Medicine, Italy