Vitamin C May Help Fight off The Effects of Air Pollution

A healthy dose of vitamin C may help fight off the effects of air pollution, according to a new study. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables seems to be good for the lungs.

Research found patients who suffered from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in London had low level of vitamin C. Their risk for breathing problems also increased when air pollution levels were high.

The study included 209 patients between 2008 and 2010. Most of the patients were between ages 54 and 74, though some were as young as 18. Many of them were also former smokers.

“This study adds to a small but growing body of evidence that the effects of air pollution might be modified by antioxidants,” said Michael Brauer, an environmental health scientist at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Some of these antioxidants include vitamin C, found in many fruits and vegetables. These antioxidants may protect the body from free radicals, which are harmful molecules that damage cells. Free radicals form when air pollution enters the lungs. This can potentially lead to heart disease, cancer and even respiratory illnesses.

The antioxidants bind to free radicals and counteract them before they cause damage.

For those who had low levels of vitamin C, the risk of being admitted to a hospital was 1.2 times greater.

“The protective effect of vitamin C was still present after excluding smokers and elderly subjects, implying that the effect of this antioxidant was not explained by smoking or age,” Study researcher Cristina Canova said.

Smokers and elderly patients have lower levels of nutrients than those who didn’t smoke.

Since the research shows that a healthy dose of vitamin C may help fight the effects of air pollution, those who are concerned should include things such as citrus fruits, broccoli, and spinach in their diet as they are good sources of Vitamin C. 

The study is published in the July issue of the journal Epidemiology.