RESPIRATORY-ASTHMA

Minerals and Fatty Acids to Relieve Asthma Suffering

Selenium. Studies have shown that individuals with chronic asthma may suffer from a selenium deficiency, increased oxidative stress, and decreased glutathione activity (Allam MF et al 2004; Fogarty A et al 2000). Selenium is an essential dietary mineral that plays a vital role in activating glutathione. In a recent study, women with relatively low blood selenium levels during pregnancy gave birth to infants with a higher incidence of asthma (Shaheen SO et al 2004). These results suggest that dietary supplementation with selenium may diminish the susceptibility to asthma.

Magnesium. Several studies have indicated that patients with asthma have lower levels of magnesium within the cells lining the airways. When daily magnesium supplementation was given to children with mild to moderate asthma, a significant decrease in the use of rescue beta-agonist inhalers was demonstrated (Bede O et al 2003). These results suggest that intracellular magnesium levels are associated with the severity of asthma and the frequency of asthma attacks. Maintaining normal magnesium levels appears to be an important component of asthma therapy.

Zinc. Zinc appears to affect apoptosis, or “programmed cell death.” All cells contain genetic code that determines when they should die. A defect may cause cells to die prematurely, leading to inflammation, which can trigger an asthma attack. Zinc may have a role in preventing premature cell death in the asthmatic lung, which might have a protective effect (Truong-Tran AQ et al 2003). However, more research is necessary to determine the role zinc might play in the lungs generally and asthma specifically (Richter M et al 2003).

Calcium and vitamin D. Steroid use, particularly oral or systemic, is associated with the development of osteopenia (reduced bone density) and eventual osteoporosis (a condition in which bones lose mass and density) (Braunwald E et al 2001; Gennari C 2001). When asthma patients are on long-term oral steroid therapy, supplemental calcium and phosphate are recommended to prevent osteopenia. Calcium citrate contains the highest available elemental calcium in capsule form (Gennari C 2001). Periodic bone densitometry evaluation is recommended for assessing the development of osteoporosis (Mortensen L et al 1998).

Preventing osteopenia involves the oral intake of 1200 mg elemental calcium along with supplemental vitamin D (1000 IU) daily. In the event that osteoporosis develops, a bisphosphonate is usually added to the therapy (Gennari C 2001).

Omega-3 and other polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids, also known as fish oils, may play a role in the prevention of asthma by reducing the tendency toward inflammation. A study of the immune status of neonates showed that the neonatal production of inflammatory cells associated with asthma was significantly decreased in infants of supplemented mothers (Dunstan JA et al 2003).

The current literature is supportive of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid use as a means of modifying asthma susceptibility and severity. However, fish oil supplementation has been associated with a worsening of asthma in aspirin-sensitive asthmatics (Jaber R 2002). Therefore, it should not be used by this subpopulation of asthmatics. If asthma patients are unsure about their sensitivity to aspirin, they should check with their doctor before taking fish oil supplements.

Borage oil. Borage oil, an herbal extract, contains a high percentage of a substance called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is a type of fat that has been shown to regulate leukotrienes, biochemicals that can trigger asthma attacks. An asthma medication called zileuton works in much the same way.

Although more research must be done, borage oil, which contains GLA, may prove to be an attractive alternative as a dietary leukotriene-modifying therapy. Researchers found that daily supplementation of GLA had an impact on leukotrienes and warranted further study (Ziboh VA et al 2004).

Curcumin. Curcumin inhibits nuclear factor kappa beta, a major component for translating inflammatory stimuli into actions such as production of cytokines and changes in inflammatory cell function. Curcumin has been found to reduce the inflammatory responses of lymphocytes in human asthmatics, and in a laboratory animal model of asthma, treatment with curcumin reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (Kobayashi T et al 1997).

Life Extension Foundation Recommendations

Asthma is closely related to environmental health and allergies. People who suffer from allergies should obtain a high-quality high-efficiency particulate air filter in the home and avoid potential allergens whenever possible. Exercise may help improve lung function, but asthma patients should be aware that exercising in cold or polluted air (such as a winter morning run) can aggravate their condition.

Some asthma patients are given corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Because these drugs can cause osteoporosis, people taking any form of corticosteroid should also supplement with calcium and vitamin D to support strong bones. The following dosages are suggested:

1)Calcium—1200 milligrams (mg) daily

2)Vitamin D—1000 international units (IU) daily

Similarly, although theophylline is rare in the United States, it is sometimes prescribed for asthma. This drug has been shown to reduce levels of vitamin B6. For people taking theophylline, the following dosage of vitamin B6 is suggested:

3)Vitamin B6—150 mg daily

Finally, all patients with asthma may be able to reduce their symptoms or reduce their medications by taking the following supplements that combat inflammation and target free radicals:

4)Butterbur—50 to 150 mg daily

5)Vitamin C—2000 to 3000 mg daily

6)Vitamin E—400 IU daily, with at least 200 mg gamma tocopherols

7)Vitamin A—5000 IU daily

8)Selenium—200 micrograms (mcg) daily

9)Quercetin—500 to 1000 mg daily (use only water-soluble quercetin)

10)Ginkgo biloba—120 mg daily

11)Lycopene—15 mg daily

12)Magnesium—340 to 1000 mg daily

13)Zinc—30 mg daily

14)EPA/DHA—1400 mg EPA and 1000 mg DHA daily

15)GLA—900 to 1800 mg daily

16)Curcumin—800 to 1600 mg daily


Product Availability
All the nutrients and supplements discussed in this section are available through the Life Extension Foundation Buyers Club, Inc.
The blood tests discussed in this section are available through Life Extension National Diagnostics, Inc.

Asthma Safety Caveats
An aggressive program of dietary supplementation should not be launched without the supervision of a qualified physician. Several of the nutrients suggested in this protocol may have adverse effects. These include:

Curcumin

1)Do not take curcumin if you have a bile duct obstruction or a history of gallstones. Taking curcumin can stimulate bile production.

2)Consult your doctor before taking curcumin if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a history of peptic ulcer disease.

3)Consult your doctor before taking curcumin if you take warfarin or antiplatelet drugs. Curcumin can have antithrombotic activity.

4)Always take curcumin with food. Curcumin may cause gastric irritation, ulceration, gastritis, and peptic ulcer disease if taken on an empty stomach.

5)Curcumin can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.

EPA/DHA

1)Consult your doctor before taking EPA/DHA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking EPA/DHA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.

2)Discontinue using EPA/DHA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.

Ginkgo biloba

1)Individuals with a known risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage, systematic arterial hypertension, diabetes, or seizures should avoid ginkgo.

2)Do not use prior to or after surgery.

3)Avoid concomitant use of ginkgo with NSAIDS, blood thinners, diuretics, or SSRI’s.
Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea and diarrhea) may occur.

4)Allergic skin reactions may occur.

5)Elevations in blood pressure may occur.

GLA

1)Consult your doctor before taking GLA if you take warfarin (Coumadin). Taking GLA with warfarin may increase the risk of bleeding.

2)Discontinue using GLA 2 weeks before any surgical procedure.

3)GLA can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.
Magnesium

Do not take magnesium if you have kidney failure or myasthenia gravis.
Quercetin

Quercetin can cause headache, mild tingling of the extremities, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea.

Selenium

1)High doses of selenium (1000 micrograms or more daily) for prolonged periods may cause adverse reactions.

2)High doses of selenium taken for prolonged periods may cause chronic selenium poisoning. Symptoms include loss of hair and nails or brittle hair and nails.
Selenium can cause rash, breath that smells like garlic, fatigue, irritability, and nausea and vomiting.

Vitamin A

1)Do not take vitamin A if you have hypervitaminosis A.

2)Do not take vitamin A if you take retinoids or retinoid analogues (such as acitretin, all-trans-retinoic acid, bexarotene, etretinate, and isotretinoin). Vitamin A can add to the toxicity of these drugs.

3)Do not take large amounts of vitamin A. Taking large amounts of vitamin A may cause acute or chronic toxicity. Early signs and symptoms of chronic toxicity include dry, rough skin; cracked lips; sparse, coarse hair; and loss of hair from the eyebrows. Later signs and symptoms of toxicity include irritability, headache, pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension), elevated serum liver enzymes, reversible noncirrhotic portal high blood pressure, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver, and death from liver failure.

Vitamin C

1)Do not take vitamin C if you have a history of kidney stones or of kidney insufficiency (defined as having a serum creatine level greater than 2 milligrams per deciliter and/or a creatinine clearance less than 30 milliliters per minute.

2)Consult your doctor before taking large amounts of vitamin C if you have hemochromatosis, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, or erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. You can experience iron overload if you have one of these conditions and use large amounts of vitamin C.

Vitamin E

1)Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you take warfarin (Coumadin).

2)Consult your doctor before taking high doses of vitamin E if you have a vitamin K deficiency or a history of liver failure.

3)Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you have a history of any bleeding disorder such as peptic ulcers, hemorrhagic stroke, or hemophilia.

4)Discontinue using vitamin E 1 month before any surgical procedure.

Zinc

1)High doses of zinc (above 30 milligrams daily) can cause adverse reactions.

2)Zinc can cause a metallic taste, headache, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea.

3)High doses of zinc can lead to copper deficiency and hypochromic microcytic anemia secondary to zinc-induced copper deficiency.

4)High doses of zinc may suppress the immune system.