Vitamins for Asthma: Can Nutrition Help Manage Symptoms?

Asthma is a lung disease that makes a person feel as though he is "starving for air." Vitamins and other nutritional supplements can be helpful for all types of asthma.

Factors

• Asthma attacks can be triggered by allergens or by adrenal disorders, anxiety, exercise, extreme dryness or humidity, fear, low blood sugar, temperature changes, laughing, stress or heart failure.

Benefits

• Nutritional supplementation for treating asthma should focus on immune function, inflammation and tissue repair.

Function

• Vitamin A is needed for tissue repair and immunity. B-complex vitamins are important for immunity and controlling inflammation. Vitamin C protects lung tissue, increases air flow and fights infections and inflammation. Magnesium increases vital lung capacity and dilates bronchial muscles.

Expert Insight

• According to James F. Balch, M.D., and Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, authors of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," asthma sufferers should take 1000 mg. of flaxseed oil twice daily, 15,000 I.U. vitamin A, high-potency B-complex, 1,500 mg vitamin C three times daily, 600 I.U. vitamin E, CoQ-10, magnesium and calcium.

Other Recommendations

• Asthma sufferers should eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which includes garlic and onions on a regular basis. Avoidance of ice cold drinks, overeating, and gas-producing foods may also be helpful.