Multinutrient combo good for asthma

A supplement containing a combination of fish oil, probiotics, and extracts from fruit and vegetables may improve lung function in young asthmatics. Children taking the multi-nutrient supplement also reported significant reductions in their use of short-acting inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids, compared to placebo, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Scientists recruited 192 asthmatic children aged between 10 and 12 and randomly assigned them to receive the fruit plus vegetable concentrate, fish oil and probiotics supplement or placebo for 16 weeks.

Results showed that combination had significantly improved lung function measures and significantly reduced use of short-acting inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. 

Bonnie: Any reduction in medication use could help to avoid medication side effects and to reduce medical expenditure.