Minimizing the severity of asthma, as outlined by

[HysteryDiagnosis]

LEF. This is not to replace medications, but rather to minimize the need for them where possible.

A much larger article exists at link that explains the importance of the nutrients at the bottom.


http://www.lef.org/protocols/respiratory/asthma_01.htm

Dietary supplementation of vitamin C has also been found to help a specific form of asthma called exercise-induced asthma (EIA). People with EIA are usually symptom free when not exercising. Studies have found that 1 or 2 g vitamin C daily diminished episodes of EIA. (Jaber R 2002).

Flavonoids. Flavonoids are the brightly colored pigments found in most fruits and vegetables. In plants, they assist with photosynthesis, but when consumed, they have antioxidant properties and have been associated with improved lung function. One study (Knekt P 2002) demonstrated that a high dietary intake of the flavonoids quercetin (found in wine, tea, and onions), naringenin (found in oranges and grapefruit), and hesperetin (found in oranges and lemons) was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma. It is interesting to note that quercetin has a chemical structure similar to cromolyn, a mast cell stabilizer sometimes used to treat asthma (Braunwald E et al 2001).

Other bioflavonoids are reported effective in the treatment of asthma. Researchers recently looked at the effects of lycopene (the red pigment found in tomatoes and some fruits) on patients with EIA. More than half of patients (55 percent) showed improvement in the amount of air they could exhale (Neuman I et al 2000). Other studies found that pycnogenol (an extract of French maritime pine bark) appeared to reduce asthmatic symptoms (Rohdewald P 2002).

Minerals and Fatty Acids to Relieve Asthma Suffering

Selenium.

Magnesium.

Zinc.

Calcium and vitamin D.

Omega-3

Borage oil.

Curcumin.

[cosmik debris]

1. Just another sales pitch from an internet site. n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. I have a new friend named ignored. Doesn't say much... nope.

[FM Arouet666]

3. Not very helpful, just a link selling stuff.

The link sends you to a page which is hawking supplements. The discussion about asthma provides a number of improperly referenced claims. As an example, the discussion about antioxidants lists the following:

(Ford ES et al 2004; Rubin RN et al 2004; Wijnhoven HA et al 2003; Trenga CA et al 2001; Fogarty A et al 2000; Hijazi N et al 2000; Seaton A et al 2000).

Absolutely worthless. Who are all these people? What journal did they publish in? I tried to look some of them up on Pubmed and found nothing.

If you are going to make a claim at least provide information which can be verified otherwise your claim will be properly dismissed as another snake oil scam.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Perhaps you need to read this, then make your own decisions

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18177234?ordinalpos=12&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum


1: Antioxid Redox Signal. 2008 Apr;10(4):785-97.
Oxidative and nitrative stress in bronchial asthma.
Sugiura H, Ichinose M.

Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan.

There has been a marked increase in the global prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of asthma, and its associated economic burden has also grown over the last 40 years. Approximately 300 million people worldwide currently have asthma, and its prevalence increases by 50% every decade. Airway inflammation is the most proximate cause of the recurrent episodes of airflow limitation in asthma. Recent research has revealed that numerous biologically active proinflammatory mediators are responsible for the pathogenesis of asthma. Among these mediators, there is increasing evidence that endogenous or exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are responsible for the airway inflammation of asthma.


Many reports have shown that there is an excessive production of ROS and RNS in the airways of asthmatic individuals compared with healthy subjects. Excessively produced ROS and RNS have been reported to lead to airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness, airway microvascular hyperpermeability, tissue injury, and remodeling in animal models and human studies. Although human lungs have a potent antioxidant system, excessive oxidative and nitrative stress leads to an imbalance of oxidants/antioxidants. This review describes the rapidly accruing data linking oxidative and nitrative events to the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

Related Articles

* ReviewOxidative and nitrosative events in asthma.
* ReviewOxidative stress and antioxidant deficiencies in asthma: potential modification by diet.
* ReviewAntioxidant responses to oxidant-mediated lung diseases.
* ReviewReactive oxygen species as mediators in asthma.
* ReviewOxidative stress in the pathogenesis of asthma.

[FM Arouet666]

5. Interesting, but need more information.

Now you are on the right track. Realizing of course that pulling up abstracts from Pubmed is just a start, a rigorous investigation of the topic would necessitate reviewing the actual articles.

Reading the above link I am still wondering how reliable the data is with regard to oxidative species contributing to reactive airway disease. As you outlined in blue, "Many reports", I am curious when I see statements made appealing to an authority, in this case appealing to a large number of reports.

However, assuming the information is valid, for the moment, that oxidative species do contribute to airway disease. The next question is; does a modification in diet, to include an increase in anti-oxidants, have an effect on the oxidative imbalance? Are there any prospective randomized studies showing an impact of antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of asthma patients?

Your original post, which was poorly referenced, suggested such studies do exist. I spotted one for selenium which suggested that it had no effect. Are there any others? Most of the review links suggested more study is needed.

Just curious, the topic is now quite a bit more interesting with more reliable information. Links to pages with reams of data and no references are a red flag and you can expect skeptics to pile on if you post them. Especially sites that sell supplements, a definite conflict of interest.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. They are working on it... a couple of samples below

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00142610?term=asthma+antioxidants&rank=1

Detailed Description:

Eosinophils and neutrophils are inflammatory cells located in the airways and lungs. When they are activated, they generate oxidants, which irritates the mucosal cells in the airways. As a result, mucus develops in the lungs. Allergens can activate the inflammatory cells, thereby worsening the symptoms of asthma in allergic asthmatics. Vitamins E (alpha-tocopherol) and C (ascorbate) have been shown to decrease asthma exacerbation associated with exposure to ozone. Enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses in the airways and lungs is a promising approach for treating respiratory diseases aggravated by allergies. This study will determine if airway antioxidants in allergic asthmatics are enhanced with a combination of vitamin E and vitamin C therapy.


http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00342030?term=asthma+antioxidants&rank=6

1.Higher intake of fruits and/or antioxidant micronutrients decreases the risk of developing asthma and chronic bronchitis.

a. Effects of fruit and/or antioxidant micronutrients may differ by smoking history.


2. Common polymorphisms in genes involved in the response to oxidative stress influence the risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis. We initially propose to examine polymorphisms in three genes--glutathione S-tranferase M1, glutahione S-transferase P1, and matrix metalloproteinase-1. However, we plan to examine additional relevant polymorphisms in the future, especially taking advantage of high throughput screens of candidate genes for asthma and chronic bronchitis. It is possible that by 2004 when the sample set will be available that more compelling candidates and high throughput screens may be available to us at a low cost. Thus we will re-evaluate our choice when the samples are available.

3. Polymorphisms in these and other genes interact with fruit/antioxidant intake and/or smoking to influence the risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis.


http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00672529?term=asthma+antioxidants&rank=15
Detailed Description:

An orthomolecular treatment approach that combines supplements has, to date, not been tested, although it is commonly used by naturopathic practitioners to treat respiratory problems in individual children. A well-designed controlled trial is needed to determine if this approach is effective. This smaller study should establish guidelines for a large trial to follow. This proposed research is particularly important, as the trend to use natural treatments may encourage non-compliance with conventional medical treatments, leading to poor asthma control.

[FM Arouet666]

9. I am a bit surprised.

Now you are on to something, NIH funded studies. Looks interesting to my tired eyes. As I tell my patients when asked about alternative medicine, there is no such thing, alternative just mean unverified. Lots of claims out there about supplements and vitamins, science is the ultimate arbiter in these matters.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

10. Most of your medicines came from plants once upon a time and we

are intimately tied to the plant kingdom through our genetics... if you will please listen to this interview you will be setting your foot inside a realm that modern medicine has ignored for far too long.

http://www.fisherinstitute.org/media/files/08_01_16-19b_1a.mp3

[cosmik debris]

7. In case you are not familiar with this poster,

His nick name here is 0fer18 guy because he once posted the titles of 18 studies that he claimed supported his point. On closer examination, it was discovered that NONE of the 18 studies supported his point.

He also tried to argue that amalgam fillings caused behavior disorders. And to back that up he posted a 5 yr. randomized trial from Harvard Med School that found "no statistical difference" between people with amalgam fillings and those with other types, disproving his own point completely.

In short, he is just another Dr. Google who seldom reads or understands what he is copying and pasting. But if you don't take him seriously, he can be really funny!

[FM Arouet666]

8. Oh the Amalgams

I recall posting ad nausem about amalgams with a poster, I think his name was philb, about a year or so ago. Almost as bad as the current debate about vaccines.

This forum is an interesting diversion.