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Last Updated: Thursday, 5 April 2007, 00:59 GMT 01:59 UK

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Med diet 'could prevent asthma'

Fruit consumption was monitored as part of the study
Eating a Mediterranean diet could help protect children from respiratory allergies and asthma, a study suggests.
UK, Greek and Spanish researchers assessed the diet and health of almost 700 children living in rural areas of Crete, where such conditions are rare.

They found those with a diet rich in fruit and vegetables were protected against both conditions.

UK experts said the study, in Thorax, added to existing evidence that diet could help control asthma symptoms.

More than five million people in the UK currently have asthma, and one in 10 children is affected.

Asthma 'rare'

The research was carried out by experts from the UK's National Heart and Lung Institute, the University of Crete, Venezelio General Hospital, in Crete, and the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, in Barcelona.

The team wanted to examine why children in some parts of Europe, such as the UK, get asthma while others, in places like Crete, do not.

They looked at the incidence of asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, and of allergic rhinitis, caused by dust mite or pet allergies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6525237.stm