For ASTHMA, vitamin C is the major antioxidant lining the airways and it lowers the asthma-trigger mediator histamine over time. Asthma sufferers tend to have lower blood levels of vitamin C. Since 1973, studies have shown improved respiration with 1,000 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C daily. Vitamin C enhances antibody production, and it is essential for healthy adrenal stress responses and immune regulation, helping to ease asthma. Recent studies show that both adrenal insufficiency and too much cortisol released by the body during chronic stress can exacerbate asthma. Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant that can protect the lungs and airways and other body tissues from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species that form during exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants as well as through normal metabolism.

Vitamin C and lung tissue health

Vitamin C is a water-soluble, essential nutrient that cannot be synthesized by humans, yet it is critically important for a host of metabolic processes. It must be ingested and is found in fruits and vegetables. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C primarily exerts its antioxidant benefit for the lungs and air passages by boosting the body’s levels of glutathione by 50%. Glutathione is an important antioxidant that protects the lungs, nervous system, brain, and other tissues.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Whereas inflammation is normally important for tissue regeneration and wound healing, the profound and sustained inflammatory response associated with asthma causes airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow limitation. Although the specific mechanisms that cause the asthmatic reaction are still being unraveled, free radicals such as reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species are important mediators of airway tissue damage that is increased in people with asthma.

There is evidence implicating disturbances in oxidative stress reactions and impaired antioxidant defenses as risk factors for asthma development and severity. A recent study of 67 subjects included 25 patients with severe asthma and 42 patients with non-severe asthma. Lung function and blood were tested to detect the presence of oxidative stress as indicated by neutrophils (white blood cells) and their relationship with asthma severity. Indeed, the absolute value of neutrophils and percentage of neutrophils were higher in the patients with severe asthma, showing that they also have increased oxidative stress.¹

Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that benefit people with asthma. Antioxidants are substances that neutralize oxygen-containing molecules called free radicals that cause long-term damage to cells. By reducing oxidative stress in the lungs, airway hypersensitivity — a central feature of asthma — can be reduced.²

Vitamin C works with and augments the benefits of glutathione, a potent antioxidant. Glutathione has been confirmed to blunt or modulate airway obstruction during an early asthmatic reaction as well as control airway hyper-responsiveness.³˒⁴ Glutathione (GSH), a ubiquitous tripeptide thiol, is a vital intra- and extracellular protective antioxidant which plays a key role in calming inflammatory processes in the lungs.

Glutathione has several benefits for asthma:

• Detoxification of irritant compounds such as xenobiotics (chemically synthesized compounds such as drugs, pesticides, and carcinogens)
• Scavenging of free radicals
• Support for healthy lung cell processes such as DNA synthesis and repair, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune function. However, 10-fold more glutathione than vitamin C is needed.
• Vitamin C helps glutathione recovery after oxidative challenge, providing cells with enhanced survival potential.

Why do I need added bioflavonoids?

The protective benefits of vitamin C are magnified by bioflavonoids, which are natural plant compounds including hesperidin and rutin, and are usually found together with vitamin C in fruits and vegetables. For asthma, bioflavonoids stabilize mast cells, a type of white blood cell in the lungs, and curb their release of reactive mediators that can trigger airway constriction, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Bioflavonoids provide building blocks for healthy connective tissue and cell formation. A natural remedy of buffered vitamin C with bioflavonoids exerts powerful protective, anti-allergic, and antioxidant benefits for the lungs, shown to reduce asthma attacks.⁵ The combination of vitamin C with its natural counterpart of bioflavonoids and polyphenols enhances the absorption of vitamin C and improves its utilization throughout the body. Acting with vitamin C, bioflavonoids’ anti-inflammatory effects are considered key to controlling lung inflammation in disorders such as asthma, lung emphysema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Flavonoids inhibit the activation of mast cells and basophils and therefore suppress the release of chemical mediators known to encourage bronchospasm and allergic symptoms. Bioflavonoids are specific nutrients for keeping airways open and clear of mucus and reducing asthma exacerbations. Various studies of flavonoids in asthmatic subjects have demonstrated their beneficial effects.

Additionally, the results of several epidemiological studies suggest that an increase in flavonoid intake is beneficial for asthma.⁶ A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involving 60 subjects aged 6 to 18 years was performed over 3 months to determine the effect of proanthocyanidins on mild-to-moderate asthma. Compared with subjects taking the placebo, the bioflavonoids group showed significantly greater improvement in pulmonary function and asthma symptoms in association with a significant reduction in or discontinuation of the use of rescue inhalers.⁷

Our patients’ experience with Buffered Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids

In our clinic, patients with asthma report notable improvements in ease of breathing and exercise capacity with less chest tightness and reduced wheezing and phlegm when taking 200 to 400 mg of bioflavonoids with 1,000 to 2,000 mg daily of vitamin C, buffered with minerals for better absorption. These people also report fewer and shorter respiratory infections, and reduced symptoms from autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or polymyalgia. They like the antioxidant benefits too, with potential long-term immune protection against abnormal cell development.

Recommendation: Buffered vitamin C 1,000 mg, buffered with magnesium and/or potassium, and including citrus bioflavonoids 200 mg, taken with any meals, one to three doses daily; or as directed by your healthcare provider.

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