Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a damaging and destructive disease that remains incurable as of publication. The lung disease is primarily linked to cigarette smoking, although environmental toxins and genetic factors play a role in the development of COPD as well. Although the disease is progressive, there are a number of treatments that might help stave off the progression of symptoms for a longer period of time and alleviate the symptoms that already are present. People with COPD often have low blood levels of antioxidants such as Vitamin A, as well as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Some research has indicated that Vitamin A supplementation might be useful in treating COPD, but mainstream medical treatments for COPD do not call for such supplementation to date.
COPD
COPD encompasses the conditions of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The LifeExtension website explains that the former condition results from the destruction of the alveoli, tiny sacs in the lungs where oxygen transfer occurs. The latter condition describes a permanent inflammation of your airways, which is accompanied by a persistent cough. The rates of COPD have skyrocketed in the early 21st century, with smoking as the main culprit. More than 16 million Americans suffer from COPD, and it is expected to become the third-most common cause of death in the world by 2020. COPD is an insidious disease -- symptoms can take decades to appear, and by the time they do, your lungs might be irreversibly damaged.
Vitamin A
A powerful antioxidant, Vitamin A, and particularly an active form of Vitamin A known as retinoic acid, might be an effective treatment for some of the symptoms of COPD, according to research studies. Since Vitamin A has few side effects, when taken in moderate doses, it would be a highly desirable method of alleviating some of the ravages of COPD when compared to prescription drugs, steroids or surgical treatments. However, more research is needed.
Research
Several human and animal studies indicate that Vitamin A might be useful in the treatment of COPD. A human study conducted in Brazil and reported in "The Journal of Clinical Nutrition," tested 36 men between the ages of 43 and 74. The subjects who took Vitamin A supplements exhibited improved pulmonary function over a control group. This seems to confirm a theory that COPD sufferers are deficient in Vitamin A and might benefit from supplementation. A study of 20 patients with severe emphysema who took low doses of retinoic acid found that the supplement restored the balance of enzymes that are thought to contribute to alveoli breakdown. Finally, a study of mice with emphysema found that supplementation with retinoic acid restored the function of the alveoli.
Considerations
Although some of the early research is promising, Vitamin A supplementation for COPD is not a recommended treatment, according to organizations including the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMM, and Mayo Clinic. However, the UMM does state that a healthy diet with plenty of antioxidants is advisable, since people with COPD have low levels of not just Vitamin A, but other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. It is unclear at this point whether the low levels of antioxidants are a result of COPD or a possible primary or secondary cause of COPD. Consult your doctor before taking supplements for COPD or any other condition. Vitamin A, in high doses, can be toxic.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Assessment of Vitamin A Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and Healthy Smokers; SA Palva, et al; December 1996
- Life Extension: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- MayoClinic.com; COPD; March 2011
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