Originally published February 12 2006
Asthma researchers believe fish oils protect the lungs from constriction brought on by exercise
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Chest has published a study of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in asthma sufferers, in which researchers claim that fish oils can protect against the onset of the condition.
EIB is a temporary narrowing of the airways that can be triggered by vigorous exercise.
Asthma affects 30 million people in Europe, which equates to �17.7 billion per year for asthma care, and costs Europe about �10 billion per year in lost productivity.
The volunteers' normal diet was supplemented for three weeks by either a placebo capsule (olive oil) or a fish oil capsule containing 3.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 2.0 g docosahexaenioc acid (DHA).
The effect of fish oil consumption on EIB was measured by spirometry, and quantified in terms of the forced expiratory volume (FEV1), the volume of air that could be forcibly blown out in one second.
Sputum and blood assays were used to measure levels of inflammatory markers, such as leutokines and cytokines.
The researchers could not identify a specific mechanism to explain the improvement in lung function, but measured changes in a variety of markers that together appeared to contribute.
The team of researchers, from Indiana and Wales, found a decrease in the levels of the inflammatory marker leukotriene LTB4, proinflammatory cytokines, and a partial replacement of arachidonic acid (AA) in inflammatory cell membranes.
"It is not presently known whether EPA, DHA, or both are involved in the suppression of cytokine production," said the researchers.
Although the study group and the intervention period were limited, the researchers concluded: "This study has shown that fish oil supplementation may represent a potentially beneficial non-pharmacological intervention in asthmatic patients with EIB."
A previous study, published in the December 2005 issue of CHEST reported that fish oils improved lung function in COPD patients.
"The authors rightly note that further careful larger studies of this issue are necessary before concluding that asthmatics in general would benefit from fish oil supplements."
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