Eating fatty fish could help fight asthma, Melbourne study finds

A new Melbourne study has found fatty fish may hold the key to curbing symptoms of asthma among children.

The clinical trial conducted by La Trobe University discovered that eating salmon, trout, and sardines improved lung function after six months.

Sixty-four children aged five to 12 with mild asthma were involved in the study, which was conducted in Greece.

Half of the test group were instructed to consume two meals of cooked fatty fish (at least 150 grams) a week.

After six months, those put on the Mediterranean diet had significantly reduced bronchial inflammation.

“Now we have evidence that it’s possible to manage asthma symptoms through healthy eating,” lead researcher Maria Papamichael said in a statement today.

Co-researcher Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos added that the findings were promising.

“Following a traditional Mediterranean diet that is high in plant-based foods and oily fish could be an easy, safe and effective way to reduce asthma symptoms in children,” Professor Itsiopoulos said.

Further information about the study published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics can be found here