High dose ascorbic acid in Nigerian asthmatics

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Asthma exacerbations are often triggered by respiratory infections, particularly during specific seasons.
• Asthmatic patients in remission require effective strategies to prevent symptom recurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of high-dose ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a prophylactic treatment for bronchial asthma.
• To assess the impact of ascorbic acid on asthma attack severity and frequency.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 41 asthmatic patients in remission.
• Participants were randomized to receive either 1g of ascorbic acid or a placebo daily for 14 weeks.
• Plasma ascorbic acid levels were monitored, and asthma attack data (severity and rate) were collected.

Main Results:

• Patients receiving ascorbic acid experienced significantly less severe and less frequent asthma attacks compared to the placebo group (P < 0.01).
• Plasma ascorbic acid levels were significantly higher in the treatment group.
• Cessation of ascorbic acid intake resulted in an increased rate of asthma attacks.

Conclusions:

• High-dose ascorbic acid supplementation appears to be a potentially beneficial prophylactic measure for certain individuals with bronchial asthma.
• Ascorbic acid may play a role in mitigating asthma exacerbations, particularly those linked to respiratory infections.