A LINK between cold temperatures and asthma flare-ups in children, mediated by oxidative stress in the nasal cavity, has been identified in recent research. Conducted by Linchen He, Lehigh University College of Health, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, the research aimed to build on previous findings that exposure to lower temperatures during cold seasons is associated with increased asthma symptoms in children.
The study involved 43 children aged 5 to 13 with mild to moderate asthma. Each child, who had experienced at least one asthma exacerbation in the past year, underwent four clinical assessments over two-week intervals. Researchers collected nasal fluid, urine, and saliva samples to measure biomarkers of oxidative stress, including malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (a marker of DNA damage), and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (a marker of melatonin).
The results revealed that exposure to lower temperatures was significantly associated with higher levels of nasal and urinary MDA, a marker of oxidative stress. The team reported that a 2°C decrease in temperature exposure was linked to a 47%-77% increase in MDA concentrations in nasal and urinary samples, depending on the time frame. Additionally, colder temperatures were associated with increased airway impedance and resistance, indicating worsened asthma symptoms.
Nasal MDA levels showed a strong correlation with decreases in asthma control scores, particularly in physical activity limitations, coughing, and overall asthma control. This suggested that nasal oxidative stress may be a crucial factor in how cold air exacerbates asthma symptoms. He and colleagues strongly advocated for further research into integrating MDA measurements into asthma management strategies, potentially enhancing treatment and prevention of cold-induced asthma flare-ups.
Victoria Antoniou, EMJ
Reference
He L et al. Nasal oxidative stress mediating the effects of colder temperature exposure on pediatric asthma symptoms. 2024;DOI:10.1038/s41390-024-03196-2.
