Eating apples during pregnancy may protect newborns from asthma

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 7 (PNA/Bernama) -- A new study showed that pregnant women who often eat apples during their pregnancy may protect their newborns from asthma.

Quoting the study conducted by Dutch researchers, China's Xinhua news agency reported that women who consumed more than four apples a week will give birth to children who are 37 percent less likely to have asthma, compare to mothers who had the lowest consumption of apples during pregnancy.

The study was based on the analysis of 1,253 children from before birth to age 5, where the mothers completed food questionnaires during their pregnancies.

The children's health and diets were assessed with a symptom questionnaire.

The study, which was published in the January issue of Thorax, said the mechanism behind apples' apparent protective effect may have something to do with the flavonoids and other antioxidants contained in apples, said Dr. Devang Doshi, director of pediatric allergy and immunology at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.