By Abbas Nazil
Eating fruit regularly may help protect the lungs from the harmful effects of air pollution, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The study, led by PhD candidate, Pimpika Kaewsri, from the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, revealed that women who ate at least four portions of fruit daily experienced smaller declines in lung function compared to those who consumed less.
The research analyzed data from around 200,000 participants in the UK Biobank, examining links between diet, lung capacity, and exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5)—tiny airborne particles emitted from vehicles and industrial activities.
Results showed that for every additional five micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air, women with lower fruit consumption had an average decline of 78.1 millilitres in their lung capacity, while those who ate more fruit showed a smaller reduction of 57.5 millilitres.
Kaewsri explained that antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in fruit may help mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation caused by pollution.
She added that men generally reported eating less fruit than women, which could explain why the protective effect was more noticeable in women.
Professor Sara De Matteis from the University of Turin, who was not involved in the research, emphasized that while healthy diets offer benefits, governments must continue enforcing strong environmental policies to reduce air pollution exposure.
She also urged that healthy, plant-based diets should be promoted from childhood, not only to improve health but also to reduce the environmental impact of meat-rich diets.
The study highlights that while diet can provide some defense against air pollution, long-term solutions still depend on cleaner air policies and equitable access to nutritious foods.
