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WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Young children who regularly eat full cream milk, butter and other products that contain milk fat are less likely to develop asthma.
That's the finding of a Dutch study in the July issue of Thorax.
The researchers examined the food consumption of 2,978 Dutch children when they were 2 years old. The children were later checked for asthma symptoms when they were 3 years old.
The study found rates of asthma were lower in children who consumed full cream milk and butter each day compared to children who didn't eat those products daily. Children who consumed milk products -- including yogurt and chocolate milk -- and butter each day had less wheezing than children who did not.
Children who ate brown bread daily also had lower rates of asthma and wheezing.
The study also found children who consumed fruit juice and vegetables daily had lower asthma rates than other children, but those differences weren't statistically significant.
The authors write the study results offer evidence that daily consumption of products containing milk fat may help reduce the development of asthma and wheezing in young children. Fatty acids, antioxidants and other micronutrients in those foods may play a role.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about asthma.
