TABLE 4

Sensitivity analysis using a stricter definition for asthma# (N=14 939)

Regular use of cod liver oil and multivitamin supplements in the previous yearSubjects nCases n (%)Crude OR (95% CI)Adjusted OR (95% CI)
Model IModel II+Model III§
Reference groupƒ12 175238 (2.0)1.001.001.001.00
Cod liver oil only100829 (2.9)1.49 (1.00–2.20)1.72 (1.16–2.56)1.71 (1.15–2.54)1.63 (1.09–2.44)
Multivitamin supplements only86126 (3.0)1.56 (1.04–2.36)1.50 (0.99–2.28)1.49 (0.98–2.27)1.43 (0.94–2.18)
Use of both89530 (3.4)1.74 (1.18–2.56)1.90 (1.28–2.83)1.90 (1.28–2.83)1.81 (1.21–2.70)
  • The association of the use of cod liver oil and multivitamin supplements with cumulative incidence of asthma over the 11-year follow-up period of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study from 1995–1997 to 2006–2008. #: stricter definition for asthma was participants who were free from wheeze and asthma at baseline who reported asthma at follow-up in combination with use of asthma medication; participants who were free from wheeze and asthma both at baseline and at follow-up served as reference group. : adjusted for age, sex, smoking (current, former, never and unknown), light physical activity, education, social benefit, economic difficulties, family history of asthma and body mass index. +: adjusted for alcohol consumption in addition to the covariates in model I. §: adjusted for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores for anxiety and depression, and chronic disease at baseline, in addition to the covariates in model I (n=14 827 due to missing HADS scores). ƒ: nonusers or those with daily intake of cod liver oil or multivitamin supplements for <3 months.