Relationship between Oxidative Stress, Physical Activity, and Vitamin Intake in Patients with Asthma

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Antioxidant nutrition and supplementation have been used to reduce oxidative stress. However, a clinical trial with antioxidant supplementation showed no beneficial effects in patients with asthma. On the other hand, physical activity is related to the prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is also related to oxidant status. We investigated the relationships between oxidative stress, serum levels of vitamins, dietary vitamin intake, daily activities, and pulmonary functions in patients with asthma.

Eighteen patients with bronchial asthma were enrolled in this study. Reactive oxidative stress was assessed by measuring organic hydroperoxides (diacron reactive oxygen metabolites: dROM) in sera and by measuring H₂O₂ levels in exhaled breath condensates. The biological antioxidant capacity in serum was evaluated by measuring antioxidant potential capacity against ferric ion. We also assessed pulmonary functions, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, serum levels of vitamins, dietary vitamin intake, and physical activities.

There were no relationships between the index of oxidative stress (dROM and H₂O₂ in exhaled breathe condensates) and pulmonary functions, serum levels of vitamins, daily vitamin intakes, and activity levels in patients with asthma.

The status of transient oxidative stress may not be related to daily activities, vitamin levels, and pulmonary functions in patients with asthma in a real-life setting. However, our results were obtained in the short-term period from a small number of subjects, so a large longitudinal study is required to ascertain the relationships between oxidative stress, physical activity and vitamin intake in patients with asthma.