Free Radicals and Asthma

Bronchial Asthma, Free Radicals & Antioxidant Activity

A study by S Boljevic, et al., of the Moscow Medical Academy, researched the characteristics of generation of active forms of oxygen (AFO) by leukocytes, peroxide lipid oxidation (PLO) and antiperoxide plasma activities (APA) in patients with bronchial asthma (BA); evaluated their pathogenetic importance; and examined the justified use of antioxidants in the complex therapy of BA. 

For this purpose, 92 patients with BA and 45 healthy volunteers were studied. Generation of AFO by blood leukocytes were examined by the method of luminol-dependent chemiluminiscence (CL). 

In patients with acute BA compared with healthy volunteers, both CL parameters were increased. In the same time the contents of plasma MDA and relationship of induced and spontaneous plasma CL were increased which suggested the decreased APA. 

The direct proportional dependence of the degree of impairment and severity of the BA course and the intensity of free radical process were discovered as well as the reversed proportional dependence among the degree of impairment and severity of BA and plasma APA. 

In patients with steroid-dependent BA the free radical process was more intensive and the plasma APA lower than in patients with steroid-non-dependent bronchial asthma. 

With regard to the free radical process, the most responsive to antioxidant therapy was aspirin asthma, the mildest, exercise-induced asthma. 

In patients with steroid-non-dependent BA, and in patients with steroid-dependent BA who together with the traditional therapy also received antioxidants, the decreased CL parameters of leukocyte AFK generation and the decreased contents of MDA were more manifested than in patients not taking antioxidants.⁷⁶

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Brittle Asthma, Selenium, Magnesium and Vitamin C

In 1999 it was reported that a diet significantly deficient in vitamins A and E and lower in other nutrients was found in the diets of brittle asthmatics compared to non-brittle asthmatics and healthy controls. In addition, selenium, magnesium and vitamin C intake was somewhat lower in brittle asthmatics. The conclusion included that nutrient deficiency and reduced antioxidant activity may contribute to disease activity in type 1 brittle asthma.⁷⁷

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Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Asthma Risk Reduction

RJ Troisi and associates reported in 1995 that of 77,866 women, those in the highest quintile of vitamin E intake had a 47% risk reduction of asthma compared with women in the lowest quintile. 

Positive associations were also found for vitamin C and E from supplements.⁷⁸

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