Vitamin C May Be Beneficial for Asthmatic Children

Children with asthma who consume a diet high in vitamin C may reduce the severity of attacks, depending on the age of asthmatic children, on their exposure to molds or dampness in their bedroom, and on the severity of their asthma according to a new study published in the journal Clinical and Translational Allergy.

Drs Mohammed Al-Biltagi from the Tanta University in Egypt and Harri Hemila from the University of Helsinki in Finland analyzed the effect of 0.2 grams per day of vitamin C on 60 asthmatic children aged 7 to 10 years. The effect of vitamin C on the forced expiratory volume per one second (FEV1) was modified by age and exposure to molds or dampness. In the younger children aged 7.0 to 8.2 years with no exposure to molds or dampness, vitamin C administration increased the FEV1 level by 37%. In the older children aged 8.3 to 10 years with exposure to molds or dampness in their bedroom more than one year before the study, vitamin C increased the FEV1 level by only 21%.

The effect of vitamin C on the asthma symptoms was modified by age and the severity of asthma symptoms. In the younger children aged 7.0 to 8.2 years with mild asthma symptoms, the benefit of vitamin C was greatest. In the older children aged 8.3 to 10 years who had severe asthma symptoms, the benefit of vitamin C was smallest.

The researchers concluded there is strong evidence that the effect of vitamin C on asthmatic children is heterogeneous, and more research is needed to confirm their findings and more accurately identify groups of children who would receive the greatest benefit from vitamin C supplementation.

Journal Reference:

Harri Hemila, Mohammed Al-Biltagi, Ahmed Baset. Vitamin C and asthma in children: modification of the effect by age, exposure to dampness and the severity of asthma. Clinical and Translational Allergy, 2011; 1 (1): 9 CLICK HERE for the full report.