Lack of Vitamin C Linked to Respiratory Disorders

The findings were published in the March 2, 2004, issue of the Proceedings of the [U.S.] National Academy of Sciences.

In the two-year study, researchers discovered that vitamin C supports the normal hydration of airway surfaces, while vitamin C deficiency may lead to dry, sticky mucus membranes lining the airway. Thus, low levels of vitamin C may play a role in the progression of common inflammatory airway diseases by making the airways susceptible to infections. Vitamin C was tested on the function of a cell protein called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). A cystic fibrosis model was also used to examine the role of vitamin C on abnormal CFTR. The findings of cellular testing were confirmed by instilling vitamin C into the nasal passages of healthy human subjects. The results suggest that supplemental vitamin C may improve airway symptoms. A survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed a link between fruit consumption, vitamin C intake, and the risk of asthma. Deficiencies of vitamin C have been reported in the airways of asthmatic patients.

"Vitamin C may prove to be an effective, safe, and low-cost treatment to improve current therapies, including bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medications, and antibiotics,” noted lead researcher Beate Illek, Ph.D., of the Children's Hospital & Research Center (Oakland, CA, USA).




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