Effect of asthma medications during rest and exercise: Bronchodilators, including methylxanthines (such as theophylline), sympathomimetic agents (such as albuterol), cromolyn sodium, and corticosteroids increase exercise capacity in patients with limited bronchospasm. During rest and exercise, methylxanthines and sympathomimetic agents increase or have no effect on heart rate and blood pressure. Sympathomimetic agents may also increase blood pressure during rest and exercise. Cromolyn sodium and corticosteroids have no effect on either heart rate or blood pressure during rest and exercise. (11).
A Multi-nutrient Used as an Asthma Natural Supplement
The effects of a 2-month multi-nutrient supplement therapy on oxidative stress was measured by a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Immune response, pulmonary (lung) function, and quality of life was also followed in 30 patients (9 men and 21 women, mean age 38 y) with mild to moderate allergic asthma. Participants received daily dietary supplements of : (a) Green barley powder (15g); (b) Oxy Rich (coenzyme Q10 [90 mg], vitamins A [3,000 IU], C [60 mg], E [22.5 IU], and B6 [6mg]); (c) Omega Rich (vitamin E [9.0 IU], EPA [990 mg], DHA, [660 mg]); (d) Prime C Complex (ascorbic acid/calcium ascorbate [1500 mg]); (e) Bio Shield (green tea extract [336 mg], grape seed extract [75 mg], citrus bioflavonoid complex [54 mg], calcium [165 mg], zinc [15 mg], selenium [150 μg], and vitamins A [15,000 IU], C [246 mg], E [80.6 IU]); and (f) Health Life (vitamins A [6,000 IU], B1 [4.2 mg], B2 [4.5 mg], B3 [60 mg], B6 [6 mg], B12 [9 μg], C [225 mg], D3 [7.5 μg], E [30 mg], biotin [450 μg], panthenic acid [15 mg], folic acid [900 μg], choline [45 mg], inositol [75 mg], selenium [150 μg] zinc [24 mg], magnesium [300 mg], copper [3 mg], calcium [450 mg], chromium [150 μg], and lycopene [3 mg]). During the study period, asthmatics showed non-significantly increased pulmonary function and a trend toward lower IgE levels, a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) (a measure of oxidative stress), copper, hs-CRP (an inflammation marker), and CD19 (B lymphocytes which produce antibodies), and increases in levels of selenium, zinc, β-carotene, vitamins C and E, and enzymatic antioxidant activities. Asthma control improved according to a 5 question assessment. Comparing the control of asthma before the study, after the study there were 13 fewer patients poorly controlled, there were 10 more patients partially controlled and there were 3 more patients which became well controlled. A nonsignificant improvement was seen in FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. The health-related quality-of-life scores of the subjects increased significantly by the end of the study. The results suggest that among patients with mild to moderate allergic asthma nutritional supplement therapy may improve oxidant and antioxidant status, inflammation and immune responses, pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life. There was no placebo group in this study. (12)
Asthma and Diet for Asthma Control:
Asthma and a vegetarian diet: A study looked at diet, lifestyle and disease in 1976 with 27,766 participants, of which 15,228 (55%) were vegetarians. Among female participants, researchers found a higher rate of reported overnight hospitalizations and surgeries among non-vegetarian females compared to vegetarian females. Non-vegetarian males reported more overnight hospitalizations and x-rays. When comparing the rates of disease between non-vegetarian and vegetarians, non-vegetarian females were 1.3 times more likely to report a chemical allergy, 1.2 times more likely to report asthma, 1.17 times more likely to report drug allergy, 1.17 times more likely to report bee-sting allergy, 1.15 times more likely to report hay-fever. Among non-vegetarian males, they were more likely to report chemical and drug allergy. Additionally, use of medication increased by 70-115% in non-vegetarian females and more than doubled in non-vegetarian males. (13)
Possible Prevention Of Asthma By Diet In Children
An analysis of 1,253 children and their mother’s diet while pregnant found that there were lower occurrences of asthma and allergic disease in children whose mothers had higher intake of apples and fish during pregnancy. Compared with children of mothers eating the least amount of apples, children of women in the highest tertile of apple consumption during pregnancy had a 27% risk reduction from wheezing, 46% risk reduction from asthma, and 18% reduction in doctor-confirmed asthma. Maternal fish consumption was associated with a 43% reduction in doctor-confirmed eczema. (17)
Butterbur as an Asthma Natural Supplement For Adults With Allergies
Butterbur is an herbal treatment and is one of the most useful asthma natural supplements for adults with allergies. Butterbur may improve lung function in asthma. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) root powder is a supplement that contains petasins, a group of anti-inflammatory compounds. In a German prospective, non-randomized, open trial, 80 asthma sufferers (64 adults and 16 children/adolescents) who took 50 mg butterbur extract (Petadolex manufactured by Weber & Weber in Inning, Germany) 3 times a day (children: 50-150 mg daily, depending on age) saw the number, duration, and severity of their asthma attacks decrease during an eight-week study period. During the first two months the patients were treated with the extract, followed by two months during which the intake of the extract was optional. Patients were permitted to continue with their regular asthma medications for the entire duration of the study. At the end of the study, measure of lung function (peak flow, forced expiratory volume [FEV1]) and asthma medication use improved. The average improvement for peak flow was 28.5% and for FEV1 it was 11.3%. Of the patients taking inhaled asthma medication in addition to butterbur extract, 43% reduced the amount of medication used while they were taking butterbur extract. The study authors speculated that butterbur extract might be effective both as a stand-alone asthma treatment and in combination with other asthma medications. The weakness of the study was that it was not blinded, randomized, and was done by the manufacturer of the product. (14)
Chocolate as an Asthma Natural Supplement
It has been a established that cocoa and chocolate has significant effect on lung function due to the theobromine and theophylline content. Simons FE et al found that an average dose of 468 mg of theobromine and an average dose of 249 mg of theophylline each separately promoted significant improvements in all pulmonary function tests with the effects peaking in about 2 hours and continued lasting improvement in lung function at 6 hours (19). It was apparent on the plotting of serum concentrations that these components remained in the serum for at least several hours longer (19). 468 mg of theobromine is equivalent to about 50 grams of a dark chocolate bar containing 70-90% cocoa (standard chocolate bars contain 100 grams of dark chocolate). Dark chocolate is less palatable than milk chocolate, but contains much more theobromine per given amount of fat content. Cocoa powder may also be mixed into a drink or used in a recipe of choice. Chocolate and cocoa is also known to act as a cough suppressant (20).