Purple Passion Peel Supports Asthma

TUCSON, Ariz.—Southwest Scientific Editing and Consulting researchers exploring the effects of nutritional and dietary therapies on asthma found purple passion fruit peel (PFP) extract may be safely offered to asthmatic subjects as an alternative treatment to reduce clinical symptoms (Nutr Res. 2008;28(3):166-71) (DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.01.003). The four-week randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial study administered 150 mg/d of PFP extract or a placebo to asthmatic patients. The occurrence of wheeze, cough and shortness of breath was reduced significantly in the PFP extract group (P<.05), whereas the placebo caused no significant improvement. The PFP extract showed a marked increase in forced vital capacity (P<.05). The placebo showed no effect; however no significant improvement was observed in the forced expiratory volume at one second of those supplemented with PFP extract.