Flavonoids, the plant chemicals found in apples, are believed to be responsible for protecting children whose mothers ate the fruit during pregnancy from developing asthma and wheezing by the time the children were 5 years old, the study said.

Asthma is a bronchial condition in which airways may be chronically inflamed, even when symptoms do not appear. When the asthmatic inhales an allergen or irritant, further inflammation may occur, leading to an asthma attack -- where the airway fills with mucus and constricts breathing.

Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 in the United States and is the leading cause of chronic illness among children. During an asthma attack, a child may experience chest tightness, coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, where breathing becomes very difficult and low blood oxygen levels are recorded, asthma attacks can be fatal.

Researchers in The Netherlands and Scotland studied 2,000 pregnant women, tracking their daily dietary intake during pregnancy and then following more than 1,200 of their children for up to five years. Questionnaires given to the mothers and doctor examinations confirmed asthma and wheezing symptoms.

The researchers sought to find connections between consumption of fruit, vegetables, fruit juice, whole grain products, fish, diary products and fat spreads and risk of asthma and allergic reactions in their children. In addition to the apple link, the study also found that consumption of fish during pregnancy may protect children from developing eczema, an itchy inflammation of the skin that usually begins in childhood. No other associations were discovered with other foods consumed.

A previous study by the same researchers had found links between consumption of vitamins E and D and zinc during pregnancy and reduced risk of asthma, wheezing and eczema in their children.

Results of the study were published online March 27 in Thorax .

Copyright 2007 iVillage Total Health.