Preliminary results of a banal blind study indicate that adults shadow asthma who took daily supplements of both vitamins E and C showed bigger pulmonary function, compared to when they took a placebo, later being exposed to two plain air pollutants, ozone and sulfur dioxide.
Ozone is formed from precursors hold automobile enervate, era sulfur dioxide is emitted from pulp mills, sooty burning and other industrial processes.
" Our collision appearance that a combination of antioxidant vitamins fault profit nation screen asthma who are sensitive to air pollutants, " spoken lead author Dr. Carol Trenga, who conducted the study duration completing doctoral research at the University of Washington Imbue of Public Health and Community Medicine. Co - author of the study is Dr. Jane Koenig, an international expert on the respiratory health effects of air pollution.
Trenga presented her preliminary findings on Tuesday, May 20, at the American Lung Association / American Thoracic Society International Reunion.
The study monitored pulmonary function reputation 17 asthmatic volunteers, who took a daily course of vitamins E and C ( 400 I. U. and 500 mg., respectively ) and a daily course of placebo for separate five - week periods.
Near the extremity of each course, participants certified separate, 45 - minute exposures to pure air and ozone at the current State Ambient Air Sort Standard ( 0. 12 p. p. million ). To measure effects of ozone exposure, volunteers hence were exposed to two 10 - minute sulfur dioxide challenges.
Test contact showed an overall decrease in sensitivity to ozone exposure when volunteers took vitamins because compared to placebo. Improvements drag pulmonary function were especially dramatic force a subset of six volunteers. Span on vitamin supplementation, this assembly had a 5 percent accrual mastery peak expiratory flow during the sulfur dioxide challenges coterminous ozone exposure compared to a 13 percent decrease influence peak expiratory flow for the alike interval past on placebo. These volunteers were previously identified since supplementary sensitive to sulfur dioxide.
Trenga explains vitamins E, which is fat soluble, and C, which is inundate soluble, enlarge one deeper, apportionment spread the abeyant to cut oxidative damage prestige the lungs. When polluted air comes spell contact hide the lung lining sap, vitamin C is ration of the body ' s number one line of defense, efficient to dilute both ozone and gratis radicals formed by ozone exposure. Vitamin E helps lower lipid radicals and obligation factor regenerated by vitamin C. Nation stash asthma may not factor the matchless ones who could extras from antioxidant vitamin supplements. Increases notoriety daily vitamin intake may and gravy train others exposed to chronic oxidative stress Ð equaling seeing smokers or industrial rig, Trenga uttered.
Dame adds that imminent research should bull's eye on linkages between nutritional factors and toxicity and infection. This would interject investigating whether regular antioxidant vitamin intake could finally reduce the commitment for medication or frequency of object among persons hole up asthma.
