Fruit Consumption may Offer Some Lung protection Against Air Pollution, Study Suggests
New research presented at the European Respiratory society Congress in Amsterdam indicates that daily fruit consumption may help mitigate some of the negative impacts of air pollution on lung health, particularly for women.
Researchers at the University of Leicester analyzed data from approximately 200,000 participants within a large British health database. They correlated lung function – measured by the amount of air a person can exhale in one second – with exposure to fine particulate matter (fine dust) in the air, while also accounting for factors like age, height, and income.
The study revealed a difference in lung function decline between women with varying fruit intake. Women who ate little fruit experienced a decrease in lung function of 78.1 milliliters for every additional five micrograms of fine dust per cubic meter of air. Though, women who consumed four or more pieces of fruit daily showed a smaller decline of 57.5 milliliters under the same conditions.
Notably, this protective effect was observed only in women. Researchers suggest a possible explanation could be differing fruit consumption habits between genders, though this was not specifically investigated in the study.
According to Pimpika Kaewsri,a researcher involved in the study,the benefits are likely due to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances naturally found in fruit. These compounds can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation caused by fine particles, possibly offsetting some of the harmful effects of air pollution on lung function.
While the observed effect is modest, researchers emphasize its potential meaning given that over 90% of the global population lives in areas with air quality exceeding World Health Institution recommendations. Previous studies have already established a link between air pollution and poorer lung health,and a healthy diet,including fruits and vegetables,is known to support respiratory function.
The researchers advocate for promoting healthy eating habits, including increased fruit consumption, from a young age, while simultaneously stressing that individual dietary changes should not diminish governmental obligation to address air pollution. Further research is planned to investigate the long-term effects of diet on lung function.
