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Vitamins
C, E Protect
Lungs from Ozone Pollution
Excerpt
By Charnicia
E. Huggins,
Reuter's
Health
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
A diet rich in the antioxidant vitamins C and E may protect the
lungs of asthmatic children from the effects of ozone pollution,
recent study findings suggest.
"Diet appears to be an important cofactor in the respiratory health
of children," lead study author Dr. Isabelle Romieu of the National
Institute of Public Health in Mexico told Reuters Health.
Her study was conducted
to determine if antioxidant supplements could protect asthmatic
children from air pollution in the metropolitan area of Mexico
City. Previous studies have indicated that children in the area
have experienced deterioration in their lung function and increased
respiratory problems.
The 158 children involved
in the study were randomly divided into one of two groups that
received a daily supplement of either vitamins or inactive placebo
pills. They were then followed from October 1998 to April 2000.
Overall, the children
studied reported getting the recommended daily amount of vitamin
C in their diets, but not nearly enough vitamin E.
The investigators found
that the vitamin supplements protected the study group from the
decreases in forced expiratory flow, the amount of air dispelled
from the lungs during a certain time period, and peak expiratory
volume, a measure of airway resistance, that were seen among those
who received placebo pills.
Their findings are reported
in the September 1st issue of the American Journal of Respiratory
and Critical Care Medicine.
Although the study group
included children with mild, moderate and severe asthma, the effect
of the vitamin supplements was mostly seen among those with moderate
and severe asthma, the report indicates.
"This may suggest that
children with more advanced asthma are more susceptible to the
impact of ozone exposure because of a decrease in antioxidant
defenses in the lung," the researchers speculate.
In conclusion, "our data
suggest that vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation above the
minimum dietary requirement in children with asthma with low intake
of vitamin E provides some protection against the acute effects
of ozone on their lungs," the researchers write.
Therefore, "children
with heavy exposure to air pollutants need a higher intake of
these vitamins to protect their lungs and therefore should have
a diet rich in vitamin C and vitamin E," including citrus fruits
and green vegetables, Romieu said.
SOURCE: American Journal
of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2002;166:703-709.
Reference
Source 89
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