Cystic fibrosis

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Cystic fibrosis requires

high doses of vitamin EA study conducted by Peters and Kelly shows that in

children with cystic fibrosis, the decreased tissue concentration of vitamin E

can in most cases be normalized by a daily intake of 100 mg of this vitamin as a

nutritional supplement.

An adequate supply of antioxidative nutrients, such as vitamin E, is extremely

important, because oxidative tissue damage is considered a causal factor in the

deterioration of lung function, which tends to occur with this disorder.

Vitamin-E supplementation

Peters and Kelly, to aid their study, had at their disposal patient data,

collected before the time when in their clinic in cases of cystic fibrosis

vitamin-E supplements were systematically prescribed, as well as patient data

from the period after this initiative was taken. The study comprised a total of

72 patients of 0.5-26 years (mean 9.8 years), who were treated with

enteric-coated pancreatic enzymes in order to improve, among other things, the

disturbed absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin E.

 

In spite of this, however, the erythrocyte concentration of this nutrient, which

closely reflects tissue concentrations, was below the normal level in nearly all

patients who did not receive vitamin-E supplements. Furthermore, it was found

that the supplementation of 15 mg vitamin E per day was not sufficient to

restore the mean concentration in the erythrocytes to a normal level, but that

this was indeed achieved with a supplementation of 100 mg per day. (Children

younger than 1 year received 50 mg and some adults 200 mg per day. This,

however, concerned such a small number of patients, that the data was not

analyzed separately.)

 

The authors' conclusion is that in most children suffering from cystic fibrosis

the vitamin-E concentration in the tissues can be normalized by administering a

daily dosage of 100 mg vitamin E.

 

Lung function

That a good vitamin-E status is of the utmost importance, is evident from a

study conducted by Brown et al. among 34 cystic-fibrosis patients, in which a

correlation was demonstrated between the deterioration of lung function and an

increased oxidative stress. It was established that in the group of patients

with severe pulmonary dysfunction (determined by means of the FEV1 test, the

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second), the plasma concentrations of lipid

hydroperoxides were significantly higher than in patients with a mild to

moderate lung dysfunction.

 

The reason patients with cystic fibrosis are exposed to excessive oxidative

stress is that they frequently suffer from infections of the respiratory tract.

The microorganisms involved are attacked by the immune system with free

radicals, which can damage the lung tissues in the case of a deficient

antioxidative defense system.

 

(Vitamin E supplementation in cystic fibrosis; Peters SA, Kelly FJ (Department

of Child Health, University of Southampton, London, England); Journal of

Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, 22(4):341-345, 1996 May.

Pulmonary dysfunction in cystic fibrosis is associated with oxidative stress;

Brown RK et al. (Cardiovascular Research, Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital,

London, United Kingdom); European Respiratory Journal, 9(2):334-339, 1996 Feb.)

 

 

 

 

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