High Fat Meals Linked to Asthma

High-fat meals may increase inflammation, reduce lung function in patients with asthma.
The Los Angeles Times (5/16, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported, "People with asthma are familiar with typical triggers, such as exercise, allergies, and smoking, that can bring on inflammation." Now, new research from Australia suggests that "high-fat meals...may also increase inflammation in airways." Before reaching that conclusion, asthmatic study participants were asked to eat either "a high-fat meal of fast food hamburgers and hash browns that came in at 1,000 calories, with 52% of calories from fat," or "a 200-calorie low-fat meal of reduced fat yogurt with 13% of calories from fat."
Investigators "found that markers of airway inflammation increased significantly among those who ate the high-fat meal," HealthDay (5/16, Gordon) reported. "They also found that lung function was affected as well." In fact, participants "who were given the high-fat meal who then used their asthma inhaler medication saw just a one percent improvement in their lung function," while their low-fat meal counterparts "saw a 4.5 percent increase in their lung function after using their medication." The results of the study were expected to be presented "Sunday at the American Thoracic Society's International Conference in New Orleans."