Early second-hand smoke exposure is bad

WASHINGTON, Aug 30, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Another study finds early life exposure to second-hand smoke can produce life-long respiratory problems, but a specific diet can help ease the effects.

The study of 35,000 adult non-smokers in Singapore found those who lived with a smoker during childhood had more respiratory problems, including chronic cough.

However, study participants who reported eating more fruit and soy fiber as adults seemed to be protected against some of the negative health effects associated with early tobacco exposure.

The study was published by researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the University of Minnesota, and the National University of Singapore.

The findings, which appear online in the journal Thorax, is the largest study to date concerning effects of childhood exposure to environmental tobacco smoke on later respiratory disease. It's the first study to include data on dietary intake.