Vitamin Therapy & Asthma

Apart from the importance of diet in our general health and well-being, research is now confirming that specific nutrients and dietary practices are very much associated with asthma. For instance, a lack of vitamin A in babies has been shown to be related to increased susceptibility to bronchial problems(1). 

Cigarette Smoke & vitamin C & Asthma

Smokers and passive smokers (ie. those in regular close proximity to someone smoking) are more prone to suffer asthma and other respiratory disorders due to the damage caused by the smoke. It is crucial for asthma sufferers, especially young children whose bodies are still developing, to be allowed to breathe smoke-free air. They have enough to contend with the traffic and gas fumes. 

A report by the National Children's Bureau in March 1993(5) stated: "children are hit harder by pollution because they are smaller, still developing and physiologically immature. Generally their bodies are quicker to absorb toxic substances and slower to eliminate them. Children are therefore badly affected by contaminated air...The well-being of children in the UK is adversely affected by environmental factors which harm their health or stunt their development."

According to Professor Danial Menzel of the Department of Community & Environmental Medicine, University of California, "The slow, long-term effects of continuing exposure to air pollution on the development of the lung also suggests that children should be provided with protection by supplementation." Foods that are rich in vitamin C are blackcurrants, strawberries, citrus fruits, kiwi fruits, watercress, mustard and cress, green peppers, raw cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and parsley.

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Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) & Asthma

Vitamin B6 has been shown in clinical studies to be of great benefit to asthma sufferers. In one report (6) a double-blind study was carried out with 76 asthmatic children between the ages of 2 and 16 by a team of 5 doctors headed by Platon J Collipp MD, chief of the Department of Pediatrics at the Nassau County Medical Centre New York. 

The children were divided into 2 groups, one group being given 100mg of vitamin B6 twice daily and the other group were given placebo (dummy) tablets. After only one month the results showed that the vitamin B group had experienced fewer asthmatic attacks than the other children with less wheezing, coughing, tightness or breathing difficulties. As a result, they required less medication than the other children. After five months the improvements in the vitamin B6 group were even more dramatic and Dr Collipp concluded that Vitamin B6 "reduces the severity of asthma in many, but not all, asthmatic children". There were no side effects from vitamin B6 but as with all vitamin supplements we suggest that you consult a qualified health practitioner before taking any supplements. 

Ionisers, Air purifiers & Household plants & Asthma

Air pollutants are becoming increasingly relevant and are even considered major causes of asthma. Apart from campaigning for better quality air, there are various ways of cleaning the air at home and even in the car which can be of very great benefit to people suffering from asthma. 

Air Purifiers - Conventional air purifiers use a small fan to draw in contaminated air (dust, pollen, smoke, etc) which is then filtered. These tend to be expensive.

Ionisers - Ionisers are an inexpensive way of providing fresher and cleaner air in the home. As their name suggests, they create negative 'ions' in the air which have a tonic effect on the nervous system. Negative ions are produced in anture and are found in abundance in mountain tops, near waterfalls, oceans and after a thunderstorm shower. The ioniser gives a negative charge to airborne particles which is thought to make people feel better. However, more significantly for asthma sufferers, ionisers also remove dust particles, smoke, pollen and smells from the air. 

There are some models which can be used in cars as well as indoors. They are relatively inexpensive (approximately £30 upwards) and cheap to run but they can cause staining of nearby surfaces as particles are drawn to the ioniser tend to stick to the surrounding walls. 

Household Plants - Certain household plants can 'filter' the air very efficiently! A two year study by NASA scientists revealed that common household plants such as English Ivy (Hedera helix) , indoor chrysanthemums and spider plants can remove a number of dangerous environmental toxins from the air including formaldehyde and benzene (both known cancer-causing agents).