Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

Assessment of Nutritional Status of Patients Suffering from Asthma

Background and aim: Several studies have suggested that increasing prevalence of asthma could be associated with nutrients intake. These nutrients can play beneficial as well as detrimental role in asthma and may affect the nutritional status of asthma patients. This case-control study was undertaken to assess the nutritional status and differences in dietary intake between a population with and without asthma.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out in clinically and spirometrically diagnosed asthma patients and (n=143, average age 29.35 ± 8.64 years) and age, sex and socioeconomic status matched healthy volunteers (n=143, average age 29.54 ± 8.61 years) to assess and evaluate the nutritional status of asthmatics. Anthropometric measurements(BMI, MUAC, and TSF), biochemical investigations (Hb, total and differential leucocyte counts and serum calcium and protein and serum IgE), pulmonary function test, nutrient intake (3 day diary method and food frequency questionnaire) and subjective global assessment were used asstandard nutritional assessment tools. Results were considered statistically significant if the observed two-sided significance level (P-value) was not greater than 0.05.

Results: Thepresentstudy resultsfoundthatthemajorityof casesweresignificantly overweight or obese on the basis of body mass index (p=0.01), mid upper arm circumference (p=0.01) and triceps skin fold thickness (p=0.01) than controls. Hb, serum protein and serum calcium, levels were significantly lower in asthma cases in comparison of non-asthmatic controls (p=0.01, 0.01, 0.01 respectively) and TLC, eosinophils, monocytes and serum Ig E levels were significantly higher in asthmatics in comparison to nonasthmatics (p=0.01, 0.01, 0.01 and 0.00 respectively). Daily intake of fat was significantly higher whereas protein intake was significantly lower in asthmatics than in non-asthmatic subjects (p=0.01 and p=0.01 respectively). Significant decrease in daily intakes of thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, calcium and iron was noticed in asthmatic than non-asthmatic subjects (p=0.01, p=0.02, p=0.01, p=0.01, p=0.01, p=0.00). Based on subjective global assessment rating scale, significant difference was observed between the groups (p=0.04) as 48.9% and 21.7% of the asthmatics and 23.6% and 47% of the nonasthmatics were moderately malnourished and well-nourished respectively.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that overall nutritional status of asthma patients was poor based on the standard tools used. Most of them were obese, had unbalanced nutrient intake and were not well nourished. Thus the time may be close for consideration of dietary advice as per recommended and modified dietary allowances followed by intervention trials.

Author(s):

Priyanka Jain , Surya Kant and Rachna Mishra

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