Tobias TAM, et al. - In a study cohort of 158 urban minority adolescents, researchers examined the link between nutritional status, defined as levels of serum carotenoids and n-3 fatty acids, and pulmonary function and metabolic markers among obese asthmatic children. The study population comprised of 39 obese asthmatics, 39 healthy-weight asthmatics, 38 obese controls and 42 healthy-weight controls. These groups were compared in terms of serum carotenoids and fatty acids. They examined the correlation of carotenoid and fatty acid levels with pulmonary function indices and with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Although obese asthmatic children had the lowest concentrations of carotenoids, protective impacts of carotenoids on metabolic health and pulmonary function could be seen in these subjects. n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) appeared to have protective impacts on pulmonary function.