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Dark-pigmented fruits may delay lung function decline

Anthocyanin — one of the flavonoid found in dark-pigmented fruits like blueberries and red grapes — may stave off the lung function decline that occurs with aging, according to findings recently presented at the American Thoracic Society 2018 International Conference.

“The epidemiological evidence on the association between flavonoids and lung function is very scant,” Vanessa Garcia-Larsen, PhD, assistant professor in Human Nutrition Division at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said in a press release. “We wanted to investigate whether dietary intake and anthocyanins are associated with lung function decline in middle-age adults.”

Researchers looked at spirometry and dietary data from both 2002 and 2012, as well as smoking status, of 463 participants (mean age, 44.5 years) living in England and Norway. Anthocyanin consumption was categorized into quartiles (lowest quartile of reference from baseline survey).

Garcia-Larsen and colleagues found that there was:

• a slower rate of annual decline in forced vital capacity in the highest quartile: –9.8 mL per year vs. –22.2 mL per year than those in the lowest quartile;
• a slower rate of annual decline in FEV₁ than those in the lowest quartile: –9.8 mL per year compared to –18.9 mL per year than those in the highest quartile; and
• a slower rate of annual decline in the ratio of the two above factors: –0.02 per year.

Researchers also found those who had never smoked, or had quit, and consumed anthocyanin, had stronger lungs for longer periods of time than those who still smoked. There was no link between anthocyanin intake, lung function and smokers.

Anthocyanin — one of the flavonoid found in dark-pigmented fruits like blueberries — may stave off the lung function decline that occurs with aging, according to findings recently presented at the American Thoracic Society 2018 International Conference.

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“Our study suggests that the general population could benefit from consuming more fruits rich in these flavonoids like berries,” Larsen said in the release.

Reference:

Larsen, VG, et al. Dietary intake of anthocyanin flavonoids and ten-year lung function decline in adults from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Presented at: American Thoracic Society 2018 International Conference; May 18-23; San Diego.

Disclosures: Healio Family Medicine was unable to determine relevant financial disclosures prior to publication.