Another Risk Factor for Asthma? Girls who don’t Drink Enough Milk and are Obese are at Greater Risk.
November 19th, 2007 | by Timothy Kintzel, M.D. |
It has been well known that obesity in children is associated with a greater risk for developing asthma. However, a recent study published by researchers in Canada shows that inadequate milk consumption is also a risk factor. Girls who tend to drink more milk are more often less overweight so it was not clear if the increased asthma risk seen in girls who don’t drink enough milk was just because of the obesity. This study helped answer this question.
The results of the study were that obesity was not a con-founder and in fact, inadequate milk consumption was a independent risk factor and when combined with obesity, such patients are at much greater risk.
Also of interest was that this correlation of milk consumption and asthma was not seen in boys.
Reference: Mai, XM et al, Allergy,2007 Nov;62(11):1295-301
Tags: Asthma, Diet, Obesity, pediatrics