Association between kimchi intake and asthma in Korean adults: the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2011).
This study was performed to investigate the relationship between dietary factors and asthma in a representative population-based sample of 19,659 men and women, aged 19-64 years, using data from the fourth and fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2007-2011. The presence of asthma was based on self-reported physician diagnosis of asthma in the Health Interview Surveys. Food intake was estimated by trained interviewers using a 24-h recall method. The prevalence of asthma in Korean adults was 2.4%. Adults with asthma consumed fewer amounts of kimchi (P=.0444) and fish (P=.0175) but had a higher cereal intake than those without asthma (P=.0056). Multiple logistic regression analysis after controlling for confounding factors showed a significant inverse relationship between kimchi consumption and the prevalence of asthma [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for subjects consuming 1 to <2 servings (40-79.9 g), 2 to <3 servings (80-119.9 g), and ≥3 servings (≥120 g), relative to those consuming <1 serving (<40 g): 0.726 (0.534-0.987), 0.506 (0.348-0.736), and 0.678 (0.502-0.916), respectively; P for trend=0.0131]. These results warrant future studies to explore the mechanisms responsible for the association between kimchi consumption and asthma.
1 Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University , Seoul, Korea.
Hyesook
H
Kim
Se-Young
SY
Oh
Myung-Hee
MH
Kang
Ki-Nam
KN
Kim
Yuri
Y
Kim
Namsoo
N
Chang
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001937:Brassica / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult