Posted on 7 August 2012 - 05:02pm
THERE are an estimated 300 million asthma sufferers worldwide with a significant number of annual fatalities.
Based on current demographic trends, the number of elderly individuals with asthma will double within the next 20 years.
Advancing age is linked to increased bronchial (airway) hyper-responsiveness (allergy).
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lower airways involving free radicals (oxidants).
The symptoms of asthma include chest tightness, coughing, spitting up mucus, trouble sleeping and wheezing (particularly during sleep).
Measurements of breathing can include the use of spirometry, spirometer and oximetry while monitoring of patient’s exhaled nitric oxide is a newer approach in asthma care.
Triggers which can provoke lung airway obstruction include cold air, exercise, viral upper respiratory infection and air-borne allergens.
Environmental tobacco smoke or second-hand smoke exposure is also linked to higher incidence of asthma or its severity.
Smoking generates a most potent environmental oxidant, which could increase susceptibility to infections that in turn cause lung injury or inflammation.
Free radicals also play a major role in asthmatic attacks since they cause the muscles in the airways of the lungs to contract.
Another factor is modern diets which are generally deficient in antioxidant-rich food as well as food that help lower inflammation.
An antioxidant-rich diet may inhibit, arrest, or even reverse the chain of events caused by environmental toxicity.
A grossly deficient diet often raises a person’s susceptibility to allergens, environmental tobacco smoke, infectious agents and air pollution.
Childhood asthma
Hatch (1995) suggests that oxidant exposure, particularly in infancy, could cause asthma.
Mothers who smoke during pregnancy or are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke can raise their children’s risk of respiratory infection, which in turn is a causative factor for the later development of asthma.
Wright (2004) reports increased stress in early childhood as another possible cause while maternal dietary habits can also play a crucial role in sensitising fetal airways to respond abnormally to later environmental insults.
Dietary recommendations
Superoxide dismutase (SOD), a major copper-containing enzyme found at high levels in the lungs, is reduced in asthmatic individuals.
Food rich in copper include sunflower seeds, lentils, mushrooms, hazelnuts, almonds, peanut, and cocoa.
Selenium-deficiency is linked to higher incidence of asthma. Food richest in selenium include Brazil nuts, mixed nuts, tuna and whole grains.
Lack of magnesium is strongly linked to severe asthma.
The richest sources of magnesium per 100g serving are rice bran (781mg) and dried coriander (694mg).
Others are pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds, cocoa powder, flax seeds, sesame seeds, Brazil nuts, dark chocolate, sunflower seeds, almonds, pine nuts and roasted soybeans.
Inhaled magnesium is also widely prescribed for asthma.
There is also a link between the ratio of dietary potassium to dietary sodium and the prevalence of bronchitis, wheezing, and airway hyperreactivity.
Potassium-rich food include sengkuang, ubi kayu leaf and tomato.
Very low intake of vitamin C and manganese can cause a 500% increased risk for bronchial reactivity. This can significantly improve by a high vitamin C diet.
Richest food sources of vitamin C per 100g are green chilli (242mg), guava (228mg) and yellow bell pepper (184mg).
Others are thyme spice, red chilli, parsley, raw kale vegetable, green kiwi fruit, raw broccoli, raw Brussels sprouts, raw mustard greens, papaya and orange/strawberry.
Another major antioxidant of the lungs is beta-carotene, which can be found in pumpkin, carrot and sweet potato.
Meanwhile, fatty fish are rich in omega-3 DHA fats, which can attenuate inflammatory conditions and improve lung functions.
Dietary fish rich in EPA/DHA such as ikan billis, mackerel, and cod suppress exercise-induced broncho-constriction.
Dietary restrictions
A high intake of dietary sodium (salt, MSG) can worsen asthma. Sodium enhances a greater bronchial sensitivity to allergens and lung airway hyper-sensitivity.
Omega-6 polyunsaturated cooking oils which are fragile, easily oxidised and pro-inflammatory include corn, safflower, sunflower and soy oils.
A higher consumption of these fats also worsen asthmatic conditions and raise susceptibility to, or severity of, other autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and lupus.
Nutritional Supplements
The nutraceuticals prescribed by a MOH-licensed therapist for adjunct treatment include coQ10, resveratrol, magnesium citrate, quercetin and ascorbic acid.
Others are mixed tocopherols, Fructus schzandrae, fish oil, and beta carotene.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/457394
