Vitamin Deficiencies Reduce Lung Function

VANCOUVER, CanadaDeficiencies in vitamins A, C, D, E and selenium decreased lung function in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and gender may play a role, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) in Vancouver, Canada.

Our study, along with other research, suggests that strategies for dietary modification and supplementation should be considered in patients with COPD," said researcher M. Salman Khan, DO, Summa Akron City Hospital, part of Summa Health System in Ohio

Twenty patients (13 men and seven women) who suffer with COPD, which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, were asked about daily nutrient intakes based on specific foods, portion size and preparation methods. The researchers found the following percentages of deficiencies: 25 percent (selenium), 45 percent (vitamin C), 90 percent (vitamin E), 55 percent (vitamin A) and 70 percent (vitamin D). Additionally, a diet lower in antioxidants than the nationally recognized dietary reference intakes (DRIs) was common among the patients.

Researchers also measured the maximum amount of air the patients could exhale with force. All the patients with a selenium-deficient diet had decreased lung function. Men who were deficient in vitamins C, A and D, also had decreased lung function.

However, Khan said the difference in lung function between males and females could be attributed to the specific study population or a number of other factors. "Further studies are needed to clarify the role gender has on the loss of lung function in COPD and the impact of antioxidant nutrient intake. The older male population studied may have been exposed to more lifestyle risks than our female population, including, but not limited to, primary or secondhand smoke,"

Khan explained there also could be a sex-related difference in the antioxidant function of the lung due to levels of estrogen or testosterone. Women are smaller than men, as well, with proportionately decreased lung power, so the difference attributed to antioxidant intake is lesser and more difficult to detect.