Ongoing research suggests that nitrite, a substance used to preserve processed meats such as ham, sausage, and salami, may be aggravating the respiratory systems of asthma patients. A French food and health survey conducted from 2003 to 2013 suggests, but does not prove, that intake of processed meats might worsen symptoms of asthma.
Nitrite in the Airways
To test the connection between these foods and asthma symptoms, the French research looked at a group of asthma patients and a control group of healthy individuals who did not have asthma. The groups recorded what and how severe their asthma symptoms were and information concerning their diets. The results showed a striking match between high consumption of processed meat and high severity of symptoms.
The asthma symptoms examined included chest tightness, wheezing, and breathlessness. Individuals measured their intake of meat on a scale of servings. Researchers deemed a single portion of meat as follows:
| Ham | Two slices |
| Sausage | One link |
| Salami | Two slices |
Experts attempted to eliminate the most obvious factors that could interfere with their data. Even when controlling for factors such as obesity and environment, the correlation between nitrite-treated meat consumption and asthma symptoms stood strong. Does this indicate that processed meats are an important food to avoid for asthma patients?
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| Asthma diagram. Source: medlineplus.gov |
What the Results Mean for Meat Consumption
Data collected by the researchers is not conclusive by virtue of the collection method and by the admission of the research team. The survey, however, does push the hypothesis that processed meat consumption and asthma symptoms are linked. It provides enough evidence of the possibility of correlation that there may be merit in further research about foods to avoid for patients with asthma symptoms.
However, processed meats have long been the subject of scrutiny, and have proven to be detrimental to health when eaten in large amounts. They often contain large amounts of salt, which can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure) when consumed frequently. They also tend to have higher amounts of saturated fat than other meats, which increases the risk of heart disease.
The Head of Research at Asthma UK, Dr. Erika Kennington, states that while food can trigger allergies that worsen asthma symptoms for some, asthma and food have not been shown to be officially related and dietary changes have not provided proven improvement for asthma symptoms. She recommends that asthma patients as well as healthy individuals stick to a diet low in sugar, salt, and saturated fat, which means sparing consumption of processed meats. She cites the Mediterranean-style diet as one that attends to the needs of the human body best.
