Higher diet quality linked to improved lung function in asthma, COPD

25 Aug 2026, 00:00 · Medical Xpress

by Elana Gotkine

edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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Higher diet quality is associated with better lung function (LF), especially among individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published in ERJ Open Research.

Arturo F. Martinez-Rodriguez, from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and colleagues examined whether diet and LF differ according to asthma or COPD status among adults in the Lifelines cohort study. The Lifelines diet score (LLDS) was used to calculate dietary quality.

At baseline and two follow-ups (around 10 years), LF was assessed via prebronchodilator spirometry (forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV₁], forced vital capacity [FVC], and FEV₁/FVC).

The researchers observed that higher LLDS was associated with higher LF and slower decline. In cross-sectional analyses including 83,460 individuals, higher LLDS was associated with higher FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC levels among those with asthma and COPD compared with those without asthma or COPD. In longitudinal analyses including 37,752 participants, higher LLDS was associated with slower declines in FEV₁, FVC and FEV₁/FVC among patients with COPD compared with those without COPD.

"These findings support the potential role of diet as a modifiable lifestyle factor in respiratory health, especially in participants with COPD," the authors write.

More information

Arturo F. Martinez-Rodriguez et al, Healthy diet is associated with better lung function, especially in individuals with COPD: findings from the Lifelines cohort study, ERJ Open Research (2026). DOI: 10.1183/23120541.01559-2025

Key medical concepts

COPDRespiratory Physiological PhenomenaAsthma

Clinical categories

Pulmonary medicineHealthy livingCommon illnesses & Prevention Who's behind this story?

Sadie Harley

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