COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
February 19, 2010 A diet rich in raw fresh fruits, fruit juices, and vegetables may improve lung function and reduce exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a prospective randomized trial from Greece.
"There is increasing evidence that COPD is characterized by increased airway and systemic inflammation, which partially is triggered by the aggravated oxidative stress that is prevalent in COPD patients," the authors write in an article published online February 11 in the European Respiratory Journal.
They theorized that balancing oxidative stress through dietary intervention might help protect the lungs in COPD.
Dr. Demosthenes Makris and co-authors at the University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Larissa, enrolled 120 patients with COPD (mean age 68 years; 88% men) in a 3-year open-label study. All patients completed dietary questionnaires at 6-month intervals.
Sixty patients were randomized to the intervention arm, in which they were instructed to increase their fresh fruit and vegetable consumption by at least one portion per day. In the control group, diet was not discussed.
The groups were similar at baseline in demographic factors, smoking or smoking cessation, dietary habits, and spirometry results. They were also similar in terms of physical activity, changes in BMI, or alcohol consumption during the study.
At baseline, groups were similar in their consumption of vegetables and fruits, the report indicates. Throughout the study, diets in the control group remained unchanged, but antioxidant consumption rose significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.001).
In the year before the study, mean annual exacerbation rates were similar in the intervention group (0.45) and control group (0.51, p = 0.01). During the study, however, mean annual rates were significantly lower in the intervention group (0.18 vs 0.34, p = 0.001).
The high-antioxidant diet was also associated with an annual increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), whereas mean FEV1 decreased in the control group (p = 0.03). Forced vital capacity was also significantly higher at the end of the study in the intervention group.
The authors report that the association of excess antioxidant consumption with the improvement in FEV1 was significant (p < 0.01).
Dr. Makris and his colleagues point out that they did not measure oxidative stress objectively during the study, and they assessed exacerbations simply by questioning the subjects.
Still, they say, "Our findings suggest that a dietary (change) to higher antioxidant foods intake may be associated with improvement in lung function."
"The place of dietary interventions in the management of COPD warrants consideration," the researchers conclude.
Eur Respir J. 2010.
"There is increasing evidence that COPD is characterized by increased airway and systemic inflammation, which partially is triggered by the aggravated oxidative stress that is prevalent in COPD patients," the authors write in an article published online February 11 in the European Respiratory Journal.
They theorized that balancing oxidative stress through dietary intervention might help protect the lungs in COPD.
Dr. Demosthenes Makris and co-authors at the University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Larissa, enrolled 120 patients with COPD (mean age 68 years; 88% men) in a 3-year open-label study. All patients completed dietary questionnaires at 6-month intervals.
Sixty patients were randomized to the intervention arm, in which they were instructed to increase their fresh fruit and vegetable consumption by at least one portion per day. In the control group, diet was not discussed.
The groups were similar at baseline in demographic factors, smoking or smoking cessation, dietary habits, and spirometry results. They were also similar in terms of physical activity, changes in BMI, or alcohol consumption during the study.
At baseline, groups were similar in their consumption of vegetables and fruits, the report indicates. Throughout the study, diets in the control group remained unchanged, but antioxidant consumption rose significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.001).
In the year before the study, mean annual exacerbation rates were similar in the intervention group (0.45) and control group (0.51, p = 0.01). During the study, however, mean annual rates were significantly lower in the intervention group (0.18 vs 0.34, p = 0.001).
The high-antioxidant diet was also associated with an annual increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), whereas mean FEV1 decreased in the control group (p = 0.03). Forced vital capacity was also significantly higher at the end of the study in the intervention group.
The authors report that the association of excess antioxidant consumption with the improvement in FEV1 was significant (p < 0.01).
Dr. Makris and his colleagues point out that they did not measure oxidative stress objectively during the study, and they assessed exacerbations simply by questioning the subjects.
Still, they say, "Our findings suggest that a dietary (change) to higher antioxidant foods intake may be associated with improvement in lung function."
"The place of dietary interventions in the management of COPD warrants consideration," the researchers conclude.
Eur Respir J. 2010.
I TOLD YOU SO!!
COPD food guru at yer service.
dale(tinster)
Yum!
But whether it helps breathing of not, they supply nutrients that our body needs and they can't be found in pizza, burgers and beer.
Stick to the low-sodium V-8. The original is just loaded with salt. It is not bad with a little Tabasco & lemon juice added.
Hugs,
TJ
Anything that helps us breath even a tiny bit is worth the effort.
Cheers,
dale(tinster)