Asthmatics require greater amounts of antioxidants than non-asthmatics.
Researcher Lisa Wood at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) found that levels of isoprostanes, a biomarker for oxidative stress in the blood was twice as high in asthmatics. This scientific breakthrough amazed researchers who at the time were studying the effect of oxidative stress on cystic fibrosis.
Dr Peter Gibson at the Airways Research Centre, HMRI and team were surprised by the deficiencies of antioxidants in asthmatic children. It was found that asthmatic children generally have lower levels of antioxidants, especially zinc and selenium although their diets were adequate.
The team is planning to study this further along with the possibility that dietary supplements could potentially prevent asthma. Dr Gibson said, “we didn’t think that oxidative stress had such a strong role in asthma, we thought it would be normal in these children”.
He believes that asthma has risen at the same time as an increased intake of processed foods and a decline in consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Research has shown that a diet high in fruit and vegetables has a positive effect on lung function. The lack of fruit and vegetables from a child’s diet could be contributing to asthma.
References
Reuters/Daily Telegraph
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