01/27/2026
With an estimated 35% of children in the U.S. categorized as obese or overweight, more children are at risk of developing obesity-related asthma. Underscoring the need for treatments, the research team is studying the effects of algae oil, a vegetarian source rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
An omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid present as an additive in certain foods for children (including some brands of infant formula and toddler milk), DHA may help alleviate asthma symptoms by reducing inflammation, improving airway function and protecting lung tissue.
Clinical studies in recent years show that children and adults with obesity are at higher risk of developing asthma. With an estimated 35% of children in the U.S. categorized as obese or overweight, more children are at risk of developing obesity-related asthma. Children with this complex form of pediatric asthma often have more severe asthma symptoms, poor asthma control, more frequent asthma exacerbations, and higher rates of ER visits and hospitalizations due to asthma. They may also suffer from altered lung function and may respond poorly to medications usually prescribed to manage asthma.
“We currently don’t have any medications specifically for obesity-related asthma,” said Erick Forno, MD, MPH, a pulmonologist at Riley Children’s Health and a nationally recognized physician-scientist studying the effects of obesity on childhood respiratory health. “The best options are healthy lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise; however, these are difficult to achieve—and even harder to maintain—and may not be enough for everybody.”
Underscoring the need for new medications and treatment approaches for childhood obesity-related asthma, Dr. Forno has embarked upon a Heartland-funded study with Weicang Wang, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at Purdue University. The research team focuses on the functional role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a beneficial omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, in addressing pediatric obesity-related asthma. Studied mainly in adults with asthma, DHA may help alleviate asthma symptoms by reducing inflammation, improving airway function and protecting lung tissue. However, results have been somewhat inconsistent, and it is unclear if the source of DHA (plant vs animal-based) may impact its effectiveness.
Based on this, the team decided to focus its research on algae oil, a vegetarian source rich in DHA and an additive to many foods for children, including some brands of infant formula and toddler milk. The research is believed to be a first-of-its-kind study investigating the effect of algae-derived DHA in reducing airway inflammation in a preclinical model of childhood obesity-related asthma.
Dr. Forno, a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, said the research will enable the team to delve deeper into the role that DHA and its derived lipid mediators play in obesity-related asthma.
“Hopefully, this research will help us establish dietary interventions using DHA-rich algae oil—in milk, cereals, smoothies or salad dressings, for example—to both help prevent and manage childhood asthma.”
A Project of the Heartland Children’s Nutrition Collaborative
This work is made possible through a generous gift to the Riley Children’s Foundation from the Ricks Family Foundation, led by Riley physician Christina Ricks, MD, and her husband David A. Ricks. Their support fuels the Heartland Children’s Nutrition Collaborative—a joint effort between the IU School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Purdue’s Department of Food Science—to uncover how early‑life nutrition can influence lifelong health outcomes.
