Consuming high-calorie, high-saturated fat, high-protein, and low-fiber foods increases the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. On the other hand, a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, olive oil, and fish reduces the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Additionally, adequate intake of micronutrients is associated with reduced risk and alleviation of symptoms of allergic rhinitis and other atopic diseases.
Itchy eyes with tears, sneezing with a runny nose, coughing, wheezing, and itchy skin—many people around us have experienced various allergy symptoms. Severe allergic diseases can even be life-threatening.
Over the past 30 years, the incidence of allergic diseases has greatly increased globally, with the current prevalence exceeding 22%. Therefore, allergic diseases have been listed by the World Health Organization as one of the top three diseases to be addressed in the 21st century.
In recent years, numerous clinical studies and animal experiments have shown that diet and nutrition are closely related to the occurrence and severity of allergic diseases. Recently, Professor Zhang Ping from the Biodiversity Research Group of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, systematically reviewed related literature on this topic, and the results were published in the international nutrition journal “Nutrients.”
Allergic Diseases are Closely Related to Multiple Factors
Allergic diseases, also known as hypersensitivity diseases, are chronic inflammatory diseases of the mucous tissues caused by an excessive immune response to allergens. “Studies have found that allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, have high prevalence in developed countries. In developing countries, the sharp increase in the incidence of allergic diseases may be influenced by the Westernization of lifestyle,” Zhang Ping explained.
In addition to lifestyle factors, foreign scholars have found that gut microbiota is significantly related to allergic diseases. Food components play a key role in shaping the gut microbiota, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the gut epithelial barrier and gut immune homeostasis.
In recent decades, the prevalence of obesity and allergic diseases has been rising globally. The link between obesity and individual allergic diseases has attracted great interest. Numerous studies have confirmed that obesity is a factor leading to asthma and negatively affects prognosis. A recent meta-analysis indicated that obesity may increase the risk of allergic rhinitis in children. Furthermore, obesity can exacerbate inflammation in severe persistent allergic rhinitis.
Moreover, there is a close relationship between nutritional metabolism and allergic diseases. Nutrients and their endogenous or bacterial metabolites can regulate allergic inflammation in distant organs outside the gut through the gut-lung and gut-skin axes.
Controlling Calorie and Animal Food Intake Helps Improve Allergy Symptoms
Different diets have different nutritional components and varying amounts of specific nutrients, which can either promote sensitization and exacerbate disease severity or prevent allergic diseases and slow disease progression.
Foreign scholars’ research shows that consuming high-calorie, high-saturated fat, high-protein, and low-fiber foods increases the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. In contrast, a Mediterranean diet, which includes more vegetables and fruits, olive oil, and fish, reduces the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Additionally, adequate intake of micronutrients is associated with reduced risk and alleviation of symptoms of allergic rhinitis and other atopic diseases.
“More and more evidence suggests that nutrients and dietary components such as vitamins, minerals, zinc, iron, dietary fiber, fatty acids, and phytochemicals play a key role in preventing or treating allergic diseases through metabolites derived from the host and gut microbiota,” Zhang Ping said.
Although limited, research has shown that weight loss is associated with improvement in atopic dermatitis symptoms. One case report showed that weight loss through combined dietary control and exercise improved skin lesions in obese patients unresponsive to standard cyclosporine treatment. Another randomized controlled study indicated that weight loss was significantly associated with improvement in atopic dermatitis symptoms, as measured by the eczema area and severity index scores and cyclosporine dose usage.
“Through comprehensive analysis, we found that many studies indicate that controlling calorie and animal food intake and increasing the intake of vegetables, fruits, dietary fiber, and trace elements significantly helps alleviate allergy symptoms,” Zhang Ping emphasized. Excessive calorie intake, high protein and saturated fatty acid intake, or lack of dietary fiber and micronutrients can trigger the immune system’s defense mechanisms and cause allergic reactions. Therefore, limiting calorie intake, along with adequate dietary fiber and sufficient macronutrient intake, is crucial for maintaining immune tolerance to allergens.
