A Joint Study on Vitamin C and Asthma Symptoms in Children
A joint study conducted by researchers from Finland and Egypt suggests that dietary vitamin C supplements may significantly reduce asthma symptoms in some children, depending on their individual history.
Researchers from Tanta University in Egypt and the University of Helsinki in Finland investigated the effects of daily vitamin C supplements on 60 children aged between seven and ten. For younger participants, aged seven to eight, who had minimal or no prior exposure to molds or damp environments, vitamin C supplementation increased forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) – a standard measure of asthma severity – by an impressive 37 percent on average. Older children and those previously exposed to moldy or damp conditions still experienced a noteworthy 21 percent average improvement in their FEV1 measurements.
The study’s initial findings suggest a strong positive correlation between vitamin C intake and enhanced lung capacity in children with asthma. While this discovery could potentially improve the quality of life for asthmatic children worldwide, the researchers advise that more research is needed to fully understand the link between asthma and vitamin C. Nevertheless, the significant results already observed are promising.
Vitamin C offers a practical solution for children with asthma, particularly in low-income settings or regions where access to pharmaceutical treatments is limited. It is affordable, easily accessible, and requires no medical expertise to administer. Even when pharmaceutical drugs are available, vitamin C presents several advantages, including a negligible risk of adverse side effects compared to prescription and over-the-counter medications.
