New Research Highlights Dietary Interventions to Potentially Manage Asthma

Dietary interventions could be the next frontier in mitigating asthma risk, particularly for those exposed to persistent indoor air pollution, according to results of a study published in Scientific Reports. An integrative analysis utilizing the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) has provided molecular evidence that specific dietary nutrients can counteract the adverse effects of common indoor air pollutants on asthma pathogenesis, presenting a crucial opportunity for comprehensive pharmaceutical care.¹

Nutrients to Suppress Indoor Contaminant Responses

Asthma remains a substantial global burden, marked by chronic inflammation and airway narrowing, and current therapies often only offer symptomatic relief. Although outdoor air quality is a known factor, individuals spend over 80% of their time indoors, making indoor contaminants—such as particulate matter, benzo(a)pyrene, and formaldehyde—drivers of the disease. These pollutants initiate pathology by disrupting antioxidant mechanisms and triggering inflammatory cascades via key genes like TNF, IL1B, IL6, SOD1, and CAT.^1,2

The recent toxicogenomics study identified 5 dietary nutrients that exert protective, antagonistic effects: resveratrol, vitamin A, zinc, gamma-tocopherol, and theophylline. These nutrients operate through shared molecular pathways, restoring redox balance, suppressing inflammatory responses, and regulating cellular processes like apoptosis and cell proliferation that are typically disrupted by pollutants. Resveratrol, in particular, demonstrated the broadest protective profile, modulating 51 genes and 187 phenotypes associated with the disease. It is notable that while theophylline is already in clinical use for asthma management, the therapeutic potential of the other 4 nutrients requires further clinical evaluation.¹

The Role of Community Pharmacists in Asthma Management

For community pharmacists, who are often the most accessible health care providers, these findings offer a new dimension to counseling beyond conventional medication management.

Pharmacists already play a crucial role by providing education, explaining medication functionality, and ensuring adherence. The study of pharmacist practices reveals significant opportunities for improvement in comprehensive asthma care. Many community pharmacists report knowledge gaps, with a large percentage demonstrating poor knowledge regarding the danger of short-acting beta2-agonist-only therapy and the proper use of the peak flow meter for monitoring the disease.²

Improving awareness of asthma management guidelines is strongly associated with better outcomes, reportedly tripling the odds of a pharmacist being in the high practice group. Pharmacists' unique expertise in medications, including assessing appropriateness and making adjustments, is vital, especially when ensuring patients use their inhalers and other devices correctly for optimal drug delivery. Furthermore, they are well-positioned to integrate new information, such as evidence concerning the protective role of diet, into patient consultations.^2,3

Despite holding positive attitudes toward asthma counseling, pharmacists frequently face barriers, including insufficient time, lack of financial incentives, and patients' perceptions that complex disease monitoring is outside the pharmacist’s traditional scope. Pharmacists also report low frequency in scheduling follow-up visits for controlled patients, examining inhalation technique, or checking for a written asthma action plan.²

Conclusion

By embracing evidence-based education and integrating insights regarding environmental triggers and nutritional countermeasures—such as advising patients on foods rich in antioxidants like resveratrol, vitamin A, and zinc—pharmacists can significantly enhance their effectiveness, translating molecular research into actionable public health prevention strategies.¹

The findings concerning the protective role of nutrients serve as a molecular roadmap, complementing existing medication strategies and validating the need for pharmacists to address not only adherence but also the broader lifestyle and environmental factors influencing asthma control.¹

REFERENCES

1. Sun Z, Yang Y, Lin D, Liu Y, Su Y, Wang B. The protective role of dietary nutrients in mitigating asthma risks induced by indoor air pollutants: a comparative toxicogenomics perspective. Sci Rep. Published online November 29, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-30380-z

2. Jarab AS, Al-Qerem W, Alzoubi KH, et al. Role of Community Pharmacist in Asthma Management: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024;17:11-19. Published 2024 Jan 3. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S442396

3. State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacists' Role in Asthma Care: A Message from the Ohio Department of Health. February 28, 2024. Accessed December 1, 2025. https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/documents/pubs/messages/2024-02-28%20pharmacists%20role%20in%20asthma%20care%20-%20a%20message%20from%20the%20ohio%20department%20of%20health.pdf