A new study from the University of Leicester in the U.K. has found that high fruit intake may significantly reduce the harmful effects of air pollution on lung function, particularly in women who consume four or more portions of fruit daily. The research, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, involved analyzing data from over 200,000 participants from the U.K. Biobank. The study aimed to explore how diet might influence the impact of air pollution on respiratory health, as over 90% of the global population is exposed to air pollution levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Lead researcher Pimpika Kaewsri explained that the study found a strong link between fruit consumption and better lung function, especially in women. The findings revealed that women who consumed four or more portions of fruit daily experienced a smaller reduction in lung function as air pollution levels increased compared to those with lower fruit intake. For instance, in the low fruit consumption group, lung function declined by 78.1 milliliters, while in the high fruit group, the decline was only 57.5 milliliters. Men, on the other hand, consumed less fruit overall, which may explain why the protective effect was not as pronounced in male participants.
The study also highlighted the role of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds naturally present in fruits, which may help mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation caused by fine particles in the air. These compounds, Kaewsri suggested, could potentially offset some of the harmful effects of pollution on lung function. The researchers plan to expand their work to examine how diet influences changes in lung function over time. Professor Sara De Matteis, an expert in respiratory health, praised the study for its insights into the benefits of a healthy diet but cautioned that access to such diets is not equitable, and socio-economic factors may still influence outcomes despite adjustments in the study.