Fast food linked to asthma, wheezing, pollen fever & eczema

Study finds rise is allergic reactions is linked to increasing consumption of fast food

The apparent increase in asthma and other allergic reactions could be a function of the increased consumption of fast food.

A new Respirology review and analysis of published studies reveals a link between fast food consumption and an increased likelihood of asthma. Fast food was also linked to several other allergic diseases such as pollen fever, eczema, and rhino-conjunctivitis.

The analysis included 16 studies. In terms of different types of fast food consumption, hamburger intake was most prominently associated with allergic diseases in a dose-dependent manner, irrespective of consumers’ income.

Fast food was defined in the study as: “Fast foods are mass‐produced foods prepared and served very quickly, with poor nutritional quality.” The authors note that poor quality diet is likely to contribute to the development and progression of asthma and wheeze via multiple mechanisms.

“hamburger, but not takeaway or carbonated soft drink intake, was associated with severe/ever asthma, current wheeze”

“Our study indicated that the consumption of fast foods significantly correlates with current/severe/ever asthma, current/ever wheeze, physician‐diagnosed allergic rhinitis (pollen fever), (severe) rhino‐conjunctivitis and severe eczema. In terms of different types of fast food consumption, hamburger, but not takeaway or carbonated soft drink intake, was associated with severe/ever asthma, current wheeze, (severe) rhino‐conjunctivitis and severe eczema,” they concluded.

“Additional studies are needed to confirm the relationships seen in this analysis, however, and to identify potential causal associations between the consumption of fast food and allergic diseases,” said senior author Dr. Gang Wang, of West China Hospital, Sichuan University.