More than 34 million Americans have asthma, reports the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. This condition results from inflammation in the structures of the airway, and the swelling limits the amount of air entering and leaving the airway. This causes shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Medications may help prevent or treat asthma attacks, but certain nutrients, such as vitamin B-12, may also play a role in helping asthma sufferers.
Triggers
An asthma attack may occur for a number of reasons, including physical exertion, stress and weather changes. Other factors may also trigger an attack, including allergens such as pet dander, mold, pollen, dust and smoke. If you do not know the triggers that can bring on an attack, keep a journal and write down the activities and environment you were in when the asthma attack began. Evaluating a series of events will help you determine patterns and define possible triggers.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 plays a number of roles in your body's processes. This nutrient aids in neurological functions, cell formation and metabolism. Doctors recommend vitamin B-12 supplements for a number of conditions, such as heart disease and dementia. Although B-12 does not have a direct connection to asthma, low levels could affect breathing, possibly mimicking an asthma attack. Vitamin B-12 aids in the production of red blood cells, and if you do not have enough B-12, your body cannot produce the healthy red blood cells it needs to send these oxygen-rich cells to nourish your body. This condition, called pernicious anemia, may cause symptoms such as fatigue, headache and skin discoloration. You may also experience shortness of breath and chest pain.
Use
As of 2011, studies have not evaluated the use of vitamin B-12 for asthma sufferers. However, you may want to talk to your doctor about vitamin B-12 supplementation. According to physician assistant Jodi Gelfand in an article on The Hoffman Center's website, B-12 can help you tolerate an asthma flareup and may help reduce the incidence of allergic attacks that result from sulfites. Your doctor can help you weigh the potential benefits and risks to determine if you should try vitamin B-12 for your condition. If your doctor recommends B-12, she will tell you how much you should take each day.
Considerations
If you do try using vitamin B-12, the supplements will not treat an asthma flareup. Continue to follow your doctor's recommendations for treatment when you do have an attack. Use the medications for prevention as directed, and use your inhaler at the first onset of an attack. If you have a severe attack or prolonged periods of difficulty breathing, seek medical attention.
References
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin B-12; June 2011
- PubMed Health; Asthma; July 2010
- Dr. Ronald Hoffman; Fighting Asthma: Building a Stronger Immune System; Jodi Gelfand, P.A.
- "The Internist"; Research Perspectives in Asthma: A Rationale for the Therapeutic Application of Magnesium, Pyridoxine, Coleus Forskholii and Ginkgo Biloba in the Treatment of Adult and Pediatric Asthma; Mitchell Chavez, B.S., C.N.; September 1998
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Asthma Statistics
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; What is Pernicious Anemia?; April 2011
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