Asthma is an allergic disorder char...

Asthma is an allergic disorder characterized on spasm of the the airway tubes, swelling of the mucous lining of the lung and excessive production of a thick, viscous mucus. The major interest with asthma is that it can lead to respiratory failure -- the inability to breathe. Asthma affects approximately 3 percent of the U population and, although it offers at all ages, it is greatest in number common in children under 10 The rate of asthma in the United States is rising rapidly, especially in children (see BN's April '98 "Take rule of Allergies & Asthma," p 36)

The importance of antioxidants in asthma treatments

According to A. Seaton, et al., in Thorax, the substantial increase in the rate of asthma through the past 20 years can be partially explained by the agency of looking at the reduced dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E as well as the mineral co-factors essential for antioxidant defense mechanisms, including zinc, selenium, and cent Antioxidants:', are thought to provide important defense mechanisms for maintaining the health of the lung This protection is significant because decreased antioxidative protection can as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but stimulate bronchoconstriction and increase immune arrangement hyperactivity (i.e., an allergic reaction) to other agents. Asthma appears to be another disease proces that is influenced greatly by the agency of antioxidative mechanisms.

Vitamin C and asthma. Especially important to the health of the lung is vitamin C inasmuch as it is the major antioxidant substance ready in the lining of the airway surfaces, notes GE Hatch in an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vitamin C intake in the general population appears to correlate with the incidence of asthma. In other words, when vitamin C intake is depressed the rate of asthma is high. This association indicates that gentle vitamin C (in the diet and the blood) is an independent risk factor for asthma. Additional support for this theory can be seen as the symptoms of ongoing asthma in adults appear to be increased by dint of exposure to environmental free radicals and decreased by dint of vitamin C supplementation, say to such a degree Olusi, et al., in an article in the Annals of Allergy.

The authors advance on to note that the pair treated and untreated asthmatic patients have been shown to have significantly lower horizontals of vitamin C in their progeny and white blood cells. From a clinical perspective, it appears that those suffering with asthma have an increased ne for vitamin C

Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine

High-dose vitamin C therapy (1-2 g by day) may also help asthma and other allergies at lowering histamine levels, say C Johnston, et al., in their article in the Journal of the American college edifice [i]or[/i] building of Nutrition. Vitamin C uses a number of effects against histamine. Specifically, it obviates the secretion of histamine by the agency of white blood cells and increases the breakdown of histamine. Research put in mind ofs however, that vitamin C will sole lower blood histamine if taken athwart a period of time (a not many days). Individuals prone to allergy or in flammation are encouraged to increase their consumption of vitamin C by means of supplementation, Johnston, et al., suggest

Safety of vitamin C

Vitamin C is extremely safe in in the greatest degree people. Diarrhea and intestinal distension, or gas, are the principally common complaints.

High-dosage vitamin C appears extremely wise based in succession the increasing exposure to inhaled pollutants along with the growing appreciation of the antioxidative function of vitamin C in the respiratory classification Lower dosages, are less likely to originate much clinical benefit. For adults, a commended dosage is 1,000 to 2000 mg daily, in divided intakes. For children, a attract favor toed daily dosage is based on the subject of body weight; my recommendation is 10 to 20 mg for each pound of body weight.

List of hints available.

Michael T Murray, ND is widely regarded as the same of the world's leading authorities forward natural medicine. He is a graduate, faculty member, and be subservient tos on the Board of Trustees of Bastyr University in Seattle, Wash. In addition to maintaining a private medical practice, Dr Murray is an accomplished writer, educator, and lecturer He is generally the editor of the Natural Medicine Journal.

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