Obesity-asthma association: is it explained by systemic oxidant stress?
Systemic oxidant stress, primarily assessed by plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations, was not independently associated with asthma and, therefore, may not explain the obesity-asthma association in women. The asthma-oxidant stress association is confounded by gender and obesity. This study is limited by the inability to measure airway oxidant stress. It is possible that another (as yet undetermined) measure of systemic oxidant stress may be more relevant in asthma.
The presented results emphasize the importance of complementing research in model organisms with analysis in crop plants and they suggest that iron distribution criteria should be integrated into selection strategies for bean biofortification.