title: Dietary pattern and asthma in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to evaluate the association between food consumption pattern and asthma in Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  125 asthma and corresponding age and sex matched healthy controls were recruited for the purpose of a study. A self- reported food-frequency questionnaire (NNR-Dietary Pattern in Asthma Questionnaire) comprising of 80 food and drink items, belonging to 15 groups, was developed based on routine dietary habits and ISAAC phase two and phase three questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference of gender, height, weight, BMI and socioeconomic status between asthma and control groups (p > 0.05). The consumption of fast food, salted snacks, fried snacks; nuts and dry fruits were significantly higher in asthmatics (p < 0.05). Similarly, there was a tendency to higher consumption of fats and oil, sugar and carbonated drink in asthmatics (p > 0.05). On the contrary, consumption of cereals, milk and milk products, non-vegetarian food, fruits and fruit juice tends to be higher in healthy controls, though neither of them could reach a statistically significant (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of fast food, salted snacks, fried snacks, fats and oils nuts, dry fruits, carbonated drinks may be associated with asthma in India. Hence, it is imperative to reduce consumption and increase awareness of influence of fast food on asthma through public health policies.
authors.forename: Mohammed Noufal
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Poongadan
authors.forename: Nitesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: rajkumarvpci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
keywords: India; asthma; dietary patterns; fast food; questionnaire