Vitamin C and fruit intake in children:
In children aged 6–7 years, those who ate at least 5 serving of fruit rich in vitamin C per week were less likely to have respiratory-related health problems including wheezing, shortness of breath, or night coughing compared with those who never ate fruit. This study, which followed 18,737 children living in Central and Northern Italy, found that those eating the most citrus and kiwifruit (5-7 servings per week) had 44% less incidence of wheezing compared to children eating the least (less than once a week). Shortness of breath was reduced by 32%, severe wheeze by 41%, night time cough by 27%, chronic cough by 25%, and runny nose by 28%. Children who had asthma when the study began appeared to benefit the most, and protective effects were evident even among children who ate fruit only once or twice a week. (4)
