Tobias TAM, et al. - Among obese asthmatic children, researchers quantified nutritional status as well as its relation to pulmonary function and metabolic markers. Participants included overall 158 urban minority adolescents (39 obese asthmatics, 39 healthy weight asthmatics, 38 obese controls, and 42 healthy weight controls). Obese asthmatic children demonstrated the lowest levels of carotenoids; however, protective effects of carotenoids on metabolic health and pulmonary function may be seen in these subjects. Similarly, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid seemed to be protective for pulmonary function.