The combined efforts of the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and the Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt, have carried out a study to determine whether vitamin C, known to benefit some asthmatic children, would benefit children with any type of asthma.

Sixty asthmatic Egyptian children between 7 and 10 years old were administered 0.2g per day of vitamin C and placebo for separate six-week periods. The effect of vitamin C on forced expiratory volume per one second (FEV1) was modified by age and exposure to mould or dampness. In younger children (7-8.2 years) with no exposure to mould or dampness, the vitamin C increased the FEV1 level by 37%, in older children (8.3-10 years) with exposure the FEV1 level was only increased by 21%. Vitamin C’s effect was modified by severity of asthma symptoms, and its benefits were greatest in younger children with mild asthma. In older children with severe asthma the benefits were smallest.

Dr Al-Biltagi (Egypt) and Dr Hemila (Finland) concluded that the effects of vitamin C on children with asthma is heterogeneous, and recommend further research into which groups of children would receive the greatest benefit from vitamin C supplementation.

Source: Clinical and Translational Allergy

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First Published in August 2011

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