Diet's role in asthma for study

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX health reporter

Eating more cereal, rice and vegetables could be the key to curbing asthma and allergies in children.

Researchers from an international study now want to take a closer look at the possible link and hope to have firmer results within two years.

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (Isaac), formed in 1991, is an ongoing project coordinated in Auckland, but looking at 700,000 children across 56 countries.

Some of its most recent findings indicate that children in countries that traditionally eat more cereal, nuts, rice, vegetables, seafood and olive oil suffer less from asthma and allergies.

The data came from part of the main Isaac project, but was only a "rough, crude, study," Isaac research manager Philippa Ellwood said.

"A lot more research is needed before we could be sure if this is the case, although the indications are enough to warrant further examination."

Ms Ellwood said the link would be re-examined in the next part of the Isaac study and she hoped smaller studies would be conducted over the next few years.

New Zealand children have the highest asthma rate in the world after Britain, with Australia close behind.

Indonesia and other parts of Asia are among areas that have much lower rates of childhood asthma.