title: Precipitation of asthma attacks in Melanesian adults by sodium metabisulphite.
abstract: Seven Melanesian asthmatic patients were challenged with substances that have been shown to precipitate asthma attacks in asthma patients in developed countries. Patients were challenged in a double-blind fashion using placebo and active substances. The active substances were tartrazine, sodium metabisulphite, aspirin and betel nut. All 7 patients were challenged with tartrazine and sodium metabisulphite; 5 were challenged with aspirin also, but only 2 were challenged with betel nut. Asthma attacks were precipitated by sodium metabisulphite in 3 patients. No other substances precipitated asthma. As sodium metabisulphite is a common food additive, these results suggest that processed foods introduced into developing countries may have an important role in precipitating asthma attacks in susceptible persons.
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Timberlake
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Toun
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000502:physiology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013447:Sulfites / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013645:Tartrazine / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives; D013447:Sulfites; C005200:sodium metabisulfite; D013645:Tartrazine; D001241:Aspirin