asthma-free-boyRecent research has highlighted the nutritional deficiencies that affect Asthmatic kids. In a randomised, double blind trial, 60 asthmatic kids with an average age of 8, were supplemented with omega 3 fatty acids ( EPA & DHA), zinc and vitamin C. All three nutrients were associated with significant improvements in asthma measures, lung function and inflammatory sputum markers. Improvements occurred with single and combination supplementation. Omega 3 and zinc have an anti-inflammatory effect with vitamin C counteracting viruses and bacteria.

Asthma is a multifactorial disease process with genetic, allergic, infectious, environmental, emotional and nutritional components. The underlying pathology of asthma is airway inflammation. Asthma is characterized by episodic airway obstruction, increased bronchial responsiveness and airway inflammation.

The main symptoms include:

? spasm of smooth muscle around the airways

? oedema of mucosa in airways

? increased mucous secretion

? Injury or airway epithelial tissue

Importance of Friendly Bacteria

Infant and prenatal supplementation with probiotics such as Lactobacilli may help reduce the development of atopic disease. This is particularly important as optimal intestinal microflora may play a protective role by reducing the transport of antigens through the intestinal mucosa. Furthermore, probiotic supplementation during lactation may increase the immunoprotective potential of breast milk. I have seen many times the powerful benefits of probiotic supplementation of both mother and baby. The important thing is to ensure that you are both taking the correct strains of probiotic and also are getting enough probiotic (fuel source for the probiotics!) as well. I often put mothers on probiotics in the last trimester of pregnancy – not only to avoid Strep B but also to decrease the incidence of asthma, eczema and food allergies in their baby. Talk to me at your next consult about this.

Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study.

Biltagi MA, Baset AA, Bassiouny M, Kasrawi MA, Attia M.

Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVES: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease. Nutritional intervention is an important tool to decrease the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn in children with moderately persistent asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomly assigned, placebo-self-controlled 60 children with moderate persistent asthma completed the study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination separated with washout phases. Childhood asthma control test (C-ACT), pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of C-ACT, pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn (p < 0.001*). There was also significant improvement with the combined use of the three supplementations than single use of any one of them (p < 0.001*). CONCLUSION: Diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, Zn and vitamin C significantly improved asthma control test, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary inflammatory markers in children with moderately persistent bronchial asthma either singly or in combination.

Acta Paediatr. 2009 Apr; 98(4):737-42.

PMID: 19154523