DS Sharp, BL Rodriguez, E Shahar, LJ Hwang and CM Burchfiel
Honolulu Heart Program, Kuakini Medical Center, Hawaii 96817.

High fish consumption is characteristic of Japanese-American men of the Honolulu Heart Program (HHP). Analyses of data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study suggest high fish intake protects the lung against smoking damage. Measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and smoking status in the HHP cohort were done at the first examination in 1965-68. Among 8,006 men, 45 to 68 yr, 6,346 had acceptable spirograms. Within current smokers, 1,545 men consumed fish less than twice a week, and 1,264 ate fish twice a week or more. Controlling for cigarettes/d, age, height, and daily calories, separate regression models indicated an average decrease of -10.1 ml for each additional yr of smoking (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -13.6, -6.5) at low levels of fish intake, and a decrease of -4.4 ml (95% CI: -8.2, - 0.6) at high levels. The coefficients were significantly different (p = 0.03). These differences reflect a predicted FEV1 144 ml (95% CI: 62, 227) higher in the high fish group at > or = 40 yr of smoking, but no difference at < or = 35 yr. Similar analyses were conducted for cigarettes/d. On average, the FEV1 decline for each additional cigarette/d was not significantly different among subjects with low versus high fish intake. However, the predicted FEV1 at < or = 30 cigarettes/d was 52 ml (95% CI: 17, 87) higher in the high fish consumption group. No significant difference in FEV1 was noted between groups at > 30 cigarettes/d. These findings suggest that the protective role of fish is "saturated" at higher "doses" of cigarette smoking.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Kan, J. Stevens, G. Heiss, K. M. Rose, and S. J. London Dietary Fiber, Lung Function, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Am. J. Epidemiol., March 1, 2008; 167(5): 570 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Kelly, A. Sacker, and M. Marmot Nutrition and respiratory health in adults: findings from the Health Survey for Scotland Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2003; 21(4): 664 - 671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Watson, B. Margetts, P. Howarth, M. Dorward, R. Thompson, and P. Little The association between diet and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in subjects selected from general practice Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2002; 20(2): 313 - 318. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Schwartz Role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lung disease 1 Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2000; 71(1): 393S - 396S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Tabak, H. A Smit, L. Räsänen, F. Fidanza, A. Menotti, A. Nissinen, E. J M Feskens, D. Heederik, and D. Kromhout Dietary factors and pulmonary function: a cross sectional study in middle aged men from three European countries Thorax, November 1, 1999; 54(11): 1021 - 1026. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. Prescott and J. Vestbo Socioeconomic status and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Thorax, August 1, 1999; 54(8): 737 - 741. [Full Text]

				E. SHAHAR, L. L. BOLAND, A. R. FOLSOM, M. S. TOCKMAN, P. G. MCGOVERN, and J. H. ECKFELDT Docosahexaenoic Acid and Smoking-Related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 1999; 159(6): 1780 - 1785. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. A. MANOLIO, G. G. WEINMANN, A. SONIA BUIST, C. D. FURBERG, J. L. PINSKY, and S. H. HURD Pulmonary Function Testing in Population-Based Studies Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 1997; 156(3): 1004 - 1010. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Rodriguez, D. S. Sharp, R. D. Abbott, C. M. Burchfiel, K. Masaki, P.-H. Chyou, B. Huang, K. Yano, and J. D. Curb Fish Intake May Limit the Increase in Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Morbidity and Mortality Among Heavy Smokers: The Honolulu Heart Program Circulation, September 1, 1996; 94(5): 952 - 956. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				FISH-EATING MAY LIMIT DAMAGE FROM SMOKING Journal Watch (General), November 15, 1994; 1994(1115): 3 - 3. [Full Text]