Blood Collection And Serum Measurements Of Vitamin D
A trained phlebotomist collected venous blood sample, and serum was separated and stored at 70°C until analysis. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D , a vitamin D metabolite, was measured using a commercially available kit . The treated samples were then assayed using competitive binding radioimmunassay technique. Subjects were classified into four categories: severe vitamin D deficiency, 25D < 10 ng/ml moderate deficiency, 25D 1019 ng/ml mild deficiency, 25D 2029 ng/ml normal/optimal level is between 3080 ng/ml . According to the recommendations of other studies , we categorized vitamin D levels as deficient if 25D was < 20 ng/ml, insufficient if it was 2029 ng/ml and sufficient if it was > 30 ng/ml. We marked this classification in figure 1 in order to identify the deficient and insufficient vitamin D levels. Other baseline biochemical parameters measured from the serum included calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, magnesium, creatinine and parathyroid hormone levels as previously described. Total and allergen-specific IgE levels were measured from serum.
Fig. 1
Distribution of serum vitamin D in Qatari children with asthma. Vitamin D levels: deficient < 20 ng/ml insufficient 2029 ng/ml sufficient > 30 ng/ml.
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Can Vitamin C Help With Allergies
Vitamin C, known also as ascorbic acid, can be found in citrus fruits, kiwis, red bell peppers and potatoes from Grant Park Farmers Market. It has many important functions, including strengthening the immune system, forming collagen, absorbing iron, healing wounds and maintaining bones, cartilage and teeth. It also may help with managing allergy symptoms. We review the research on this below.
What Is Allergic Rhinitis
The term allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that people experience when suffering from seasonal allergies. These symptoms primarily affect the nose and sinuses and occur when the body is exposed to an environmental substance that usually causes other people no problems, which is called an allergen. People with seasonal allergies have an immune system that overreacts to certain allergens because their bodies perceive this otherwise harmless substance as an invader and begins to attack, causing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. During an allergy attack, the body responds by starting to release inflammatory mediators such as histamines, causing inflammation in the body. The symptoms triggered by inflammation include:
- Itchy/watery eyes
- Nasal congestion
Allergic rhinitis can be very unpleasant and affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. Although there are now dozens of over the counter and prescription antihistamine medications designed for the treatment of seasonal allergies, several studies have been conducted in the past two decades to determine if vitamin C can help with seasonal allergies.
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Vitamin C May Affect Your Histamine Levels
A small 2013 study with 89 people found that when peeps with and without allergies were given high dose 7.5-gram injections of vitamin C, it led to a significant reduction in histamine. Histamine is a compound that plays a key role in the bodys inflammatory response.
Histamines released from cells in your immune system and causes allergy symptoms like itching and stuffy nose. So, theoretically, reducing the amount of histamine in your system may help reduce allergy symptoms.
Minimize Attacks With Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral critical for health and wellness. Magnesium is also the go-to for medical experts in treating asthma. The mineral relaxes inflamed bronchial muscles, helping air to flow efficiently. About 50% of persons in the US are not getting the required daily dose of magnesium. And research shows persons with asthma have even lower levels. The body can overuse magnesium to compensate for the disease. Taking a daily magnesium supplement may help manage symptoms and improve long-term respiratory health.
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How Much Vitamin C
The recommended dietary intake of vitamin C is relatively low, but most experts suggest consuming well above the RDI if youre looking to treat allergiesaround 2,000 mg 12.
Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, its not stored in the body, and therefore the risk of toxicity is minimal. That said, water-soluble vitamins also must be replaced daily to prevent deficiency.
Although experts recommend 2,000 mg for allergies, you can also reap the other benefits of vitamin C by ensuring youre consuming what your body needs through both supplementation and food. That can be done with a vitamin C flush .
Note that its best to do this flush on an empty stomach and on a day when you arent planning to go out .
Heres how to do it:
Once youve reached loose stools, youve hit your intake maximumyou can knock it back 1,000 mg if youre worried because intake requirements will differ between people, and the time to reach vitamin C saturation will vary. However, most people will reach it in 2 to 3 hours.
How Effective Is Vitamin C For Allergies
Theres some evidence that vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, may help with some allergies.
Vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine and antioxidant. Studies have shown it may decrease inflammation, swelling, and related symptoms that happen at the site of an allergic reaction .
Allergy symptoms happen when your immune system reacts to a foreign invader, called an allergen.
Common allergens include pollen, pet dander, and proteins in certain foods. Cells in your immune system called mast cells are activated and release histamine to help block the invader.
Histamine may trigger the following allergy symptoms (
- anaphylaxis, a rare but life threatening swelling in the airway
For mild seasonal or environmental allergies, antihistamine medications can block histamine and its effects, but they can have unwanted side effects of their own .
Vitamin C acts differently from antihistamine medications, reducing the amount of histamine you produce rather than blocking histamine receptors. Research suggests histamine levels may reduce by about 38% after a person takes 2 grams of vitamin C .
Receiving a higher dose of vitamin C through an IV might be more effective.
A small study in 89 people with allergies or infectious diseases showed that those who received a 7.5 gram IV infusion of vitamin C had about 50% less histamine in their blood .
The study found that people who had allergies benefited from a greater reduction in histamine than those with infectious diseases .
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Allergies And Asthma: Supplements And Activities Schedule
Allergies and asthma are create misery for many people, especially in the spring when seasonal allergies return due to particulates from plants, including pollens.
Yet, seasonal allergic symptoms and asthmatic symptoms go far beyond the plant pollens of spring. In fact, allergies and asthma are frequently associated with exposures to certain foods and food additives, molds, animal dander, chemicals, and various environmental exposures.
Fortunately for many sufferers, there are many simple, natural, and alternative means available to help support, alleviate, and in some cases virtually eliminate, the symptoms associated with allergies and asthma.
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What Does Science Say About Vitamin D And Asthma
Research shows an important relationship between vitamin D deficiency and poor bone health. Scientists believe vitamin D may impact other areas of health, including asthma. According to research, vitamin D has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity which might lower the risk of asthma attacks caused by respiratory infections.2
Here is a recent analysis of multiple studies that support the link between vitamin D and asthma:
Vitamin D for the Management of Asthma3
Researchers compared the results of nine studies. Seven included 435 children and two included 658 adults. They concluded that vitamin D is:
- Likely to reduce both the risk of asthma attack and health care use. But these findings were generally limited to only those with mild or moderate asthma. It also only looked at those with lower baseline vitamin D levels.
- Children and people with frequent severe asthma attacks were under-represented. More primary trials are needed to see if vitamin D can reduce the risk of severe asthma attacks in these groups.
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A Natural Approach To Allergy Relief
When symptoms strike, many of us go straight to over-the-counter allergy medications. But complementary medicine offers a more natural approach that can sometimes provide relief on par with pharmaceuticals, said Dr. Rachel Baldwin, an integrative medicine specialist at .
When it comes to natural remedies for seasonal allergies, however, theres no one-size fits-all approach.
Every individual everyone responds differently to different interventions, so I suggest that people experiment and find what tends to work best for them, she said. Its good to conduct little trials with ourselves. If one particular treatment doesn’t work, another one may.
To that end, she offered a variety of options to try after checking with your healthcare provider, of course to rule out any potential problems with side effects or drug interactions.
Does Vitamin C Help With Seasonal Allergies
For many people, seasonal allergies are the bane of their existence. No one wants to walk around with watery eyes, itchy skin, a runny nose, or a host of other symptoms that are associated with . And while springtime is the most common season for people to experience allergies, sufferers can experience allergy problems all year long. Because treating seasonal allergies can prove difficult, many people look for supplements and vitamins to help combat the symptoms and improve their quality of life. Keep reading to learn the answer to does vitamin C help with allergies?
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Vitamin C And Allergies: Could It Help
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins that tend to stick around longer in your cells, you need to make sure youre getting enough vitamin C every day.
Even though vitamin C is found in a ton of foods like fruits and vegetables, its pretty common in Western populations for folks to have low blood levels of vitamin C. In fact, vitamin C deficiency is the fourth most common nutrient deficiency in the United States.
Having low vitamin C levels can negatively impact your bod in a number of ways, like weakening your immune system. But just because getting enough vitamin C is necessary for your overall health, it doesnt mean that peeps with allergies necessarily need to supplement with extra vitamin C.
In fact, theres not a lot of evidence that supplemental vitamin C benefits peeps with allergies who have adequate vitamin C intake.
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High Doses Of Vitamin C Through An Iv Seem Promising
The same small study above with 71 participants showed that high dose IV vitamin C helped reduce allergy symptoms like sleep issues, itching, and stuffy nose in adults with allergic respiratory disease or allergic skin disease.
Peeps were given an average of 7 to 26 doses of 7.6 grams of vitamin C over a period of 3 or 12 weeks, depending on the type of allergy.
FYI: This is *way* more than the 250- to 1,000-milligram doses typically found in oral vitamin C supplements. Plus, IV treatment means its delivered directly into your bloodstream, so it has different effects than oral vitamin C.
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Be Safe With Supplements With These Steps:
Stay Hydrated With Water
Water isnt a vitamin or supplement, but it is a very important tool to use in prevention and treatment of asthma attacks.
In everyday life its healthy to drink plenty of water all of your systems work better when hydrated.
As you know, one of the primary symptoms of asthma is thick mucus that clogs your lungs. Water will break down that mucus, which makes it thinner and easier to breathe through.
During an asthma attack, that thick mucus will also clog your bronchioles the tiny branches at the end of your airways.
The mucus goes down the passageways to tiny air sacs called alveoli, which are the site of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the respiratory system.
If you are dehydrated, the mucus will thicken even more and dry into hard plugs that will continue to block oxygen until you can clear them out.
Water helps thin mucus and soften the hardened plugs so they are easier to cough out.
You may also lose water through sweating from the exertion of rapid breathing during a severe prolonged asthma attack.
Higher body temperature, and the increased rate of respiration also contribute to dehydration.
I was astonished to find, during one Emergency Room visit, that I was not allowed to have water.
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What Natural Allergy Remedies Work
Allergies are caused by the immune systemâs overreaction to a harmless substance, such as animal dander or pollen. Like allergy medication, some supplements can help by blocking the chemical reactions that result in allergy symptoms.
Most natural allergy supplements come in capsules, tablets, or liquids, and are available in drugstores or health food stores. A few may be more difficult to find. If youâre in an urban area, you might try a naturopathic physician, an herbalist, or other expert in integrative health. Otherwise, your best bet may be stores on the Internet.
Hereâs the rundown.
- Butterbur. âButterbur is the Singulair of the herbal world,â says Rakel. âI think of all the allergy supplements, it has the best evidence behind it.â The herb appears to work as a leukotriene inhibitor, which blocks some chemicals that trigger swelling in the nasal passages.
Some research shows that an extract of butterbur root are just as effective at relieving nasal symptoms as antihistamines like Zyrtec and Allegra. Butterbur has the advantage of not causing sleepiness, a common side effect of antihistamines, even some so-called ânon-sedating antihistamines.â âFor someone who is driving a car or flying a plane and really needs to avoid the sedative effects of an allergy medication, butterbur is a good alternative,â Rakel says.
Makes Allergies Worse: Red Meat
If youre constantly reaching for a tissue this time of year, it may be time to step away from the red meat. Red meat like beef, pork, and lamb can carry an allergen that causes a reaction similar to seasonal allergies. It could even become life-threatening, so if you dont feel well after eating red meat, skip the burger and order the chicken.
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Nutrition And Dietary Supplements
Although there is no diet for asthma, people who have allergic asthma may also have food allergies that can make their asthma worse. If you think you may have food allergies, talk to your doctor about trying an elimination diet.
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants may also help control asthma. One study found that people with asthma who followed the Mediterranean diet had better control of asthma symptoms. Some studies suggest that people with asthma tend to have low levels of certain nutrients. But there is no evidence that taking supplements helps reduce asthma attacks. An overall healthy diet will help you get the nutrients you need, and help your body deal with a long-term condition like asthma.
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The 10 Best Herbs For Allergies
Seasonal allergies are a common occurrence in todays world. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, around 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies each year, or
Seasonal allergies are a common occurrence in todays world.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, around 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies each year, or around 15% of the population.
This article looks at the scientific research behind the best herbs for allergies.
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Vitamin C For Allergies: Effectiveness Uses And Precautions
Vitamin C has many important jobs in your body, but its probably best known for supporting your immune system.
Some people wonder if vitamin C is helpful for allergies, which are immune reactions to substances in your environment .
This article takes an evidence-based look at vitamin Cs effectiveness, uses, and any precautions for treating or preventing allergies.
Vitamin D For Allergies
Vitamin D is something many people are deficient in. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the body. We make it from exposure to sunlight. Most people spend their time indoors or live far enough away from the equator that during winter they cant get enough vitamin D. It is difficult to get through food. Even with supplementation, it can be difficult to get to optimal levels.
Usually, food is the best way to get vitamins but a supplement may be required to get enough vitamin D for most people. Low vitamin D levels and allergies appear to be connected. It is uncertain if the allergies and stress on the body cause low vitamin D or low vitamin D levels can make allergies worse.
You can get your vitamin D tested with a simple blood draw. Most doctors are more than willing to do this. For want more in-depth information about vitamin D, you can read this article. If you are considering a supplement find one with D3.
If you are low on vitamin D it will take time to build up in your body and get to a good level. Depending on the dosage of vitamin D you take or the amount of sunlight you get it could take months to a year or two before you see levels improve.
This isnt a quick fix but one that is extremely important for improving allergies overall.
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