Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease. Nutritional intervention is an important tool to decrease the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn in children with moderately persistent asthma.


METHODS
Randomly assigned, placebo-self-controlled 60 children with moderate persistent asthma completed the study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination separated with washout phases. Childhood asthma control test (C-ACT), pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement of C-ACT, pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn (p < 0.001*). There was also significant improvement with the combined use of the three supplementations than single use of any one of them (p < 0.001*).


CONCLUSIONS
Diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, Zn and vitamin C significantly improved asthma control test, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary inflammatory markers in children with moderately persistent bronchial asthma either singly or in combination.
Biltagi
Mohammed Al
MA
Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Baset
Ahmed Abdul
AA
Bassiouny
Mohammed
M
Kasrawi
Mohammed Al
MA
Attia
Mohammed
M
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid