Eating healthily during pregnancy may help to reduce asthma in your child, says Asthma UK.

Eating a healthy diet with foods rich in vitamin E may influence the development of childhood asthma, research shows. Foods such as green leafy vegetables, meat and fish all contain vitamin E and when eaten as part of a healthy balanced diet during pregnancy can make a difference to your child developing asthma by 5 years old.

Today, 1.1 million children have asthma, and it is the most common long-term condition among children in the UK.

Research carried out by Dr Graham Devereux from the University of Aberdeen, and funded by Asthma UK, looked at the diets of 2000 pregnant women and their children over a five-year period. The research found that a diet low in vitamin E during pregnancy is associated with increased asthma and reduced lung function in children at the age of 5 years. It also highlighted that two-year-olds whose mothers' vitamin E intake during pregnancy had been relatively low were more likely to wheeze even when they had no cold.

Graham Devereux said: 'Children born to mothers who had a low intake of vitamin E during pregnancy were five times more likely to be asthmatic than children whose mothers had eaten a diet high in vitamin E. This study has shown that foods rich in vitamin E may influence the development of childhood asthma and a diet low in foods containing vitamin E during pregnancy is associated with increased asthma and reduced lung function in children at the age of 5 years. It is possible that declining intake of vitamin E in the last 50 years may have contributed to the increase in asthma in children. The potential importance of this study is that in the future it may be possible to reduce the risk of asthma in children by changing the diet of mothers during pregnancy. However, further work needs to be carried out before specific advice can be given to pregnant mothers.'

For the research, children were tested at six, 12, 24 and 60 months but a diagnosis of asthma at children aged 5 years old is more reliable as more accurate measurements of lung function can be carried out.

Dr Lyn Smurthwaite, Research Development Manager at Asthma UK, comments 'Eating a healthy, balanced diet at any time, but especially during pregnancy, makes sense and this study suggests simple modifications in a pregnant mother's diet may help protect her child from developing asthma by the age of five. Asthma UK is pleased to have funded this research which has the potential to provide a natural way of reducing childhood asthma.'

For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline on 08457 01 02 03, or email an asthma nurse specialist at asthma.org.uk/adviceline