
What Are Antioxidants And How They Help To Fight Allergies?
Antioxidants are compounds that possess the ability to attack and destroy free radicals released in the body during various metabolic processes.
Antioxidants also play a key role in minimizing oxidative damage to healthy tissues thereby reducing inflammation and the risk of diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Recent studies have suggested that the use of antioxidants could be beneficial in controlling allergy attacks.
Here is a detailed description about the role of antioxidants in the management of allergic disorders and how they help to reduce the intensity and the frequency of the attacks of these diseases.
The Role of Antioxidants in the Management of Allergies
Attenuate Inflammatory Responses
Speculation persists about the possible role of antioxidants in the treatment of allergic diseases. It has been hypothesized that the recent rise in the incidence of allergic disease could be a consequence of the decline in the antioxidant intake through dietary sources.
This suggests that increasing your intake of foods containing natural antioxidant properties could be effective for controlling the attacks of allergic disorders such as asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis.
Some studies have demonstrated that supplementation with antioxidants at the time of primary as well as subsequent exposure to allergens could attenuate the inflammatory responses of the immune system.
Human interventional studies have also suggested that the use of supplements containing a single antioxidant may confer minimal clinical benefit in adult patients with allergic diseases, especially asthma. However, in children, using antioxidant combinations is expected to provide better results for minimizing the episodes and severity of atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis.
A few cohort studies have also reported beneficial associations between the maternal intake of antioxidants during pregnancy and the reduced risk of asthma in the child. The results of these studies have suggested that the use of antioxidants, both in the forms of diet or supplementation, could be effective for treating asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis linked to allergies.
Effects of Antioxidant Supplements
Allergic diseases are believed to develop through the complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Since systemic and pulmonary oxidative stress can increase the inflammatory response relevant to allergic disease, supplementation or a dietary intake of antioxidants from a varied category is proposed as an alternative approach for reducing the incidence of and morbidity linked to asthma.
Studies have suggested that the potential benefits of antioxidant supplements could be considered in vulnerable populations that have marked deficiency of the dietary intake of antioxidants, lack of access to dietary antioxidants, or higher exposure to the environmental sources of toxins and oxidants.
Allergic Disorders in Children
The prevalence of allergic disorders could be controlled to a great extent by creating awareness about including natural antioxidants in the diet, especially for children.
Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants commonly used in antioxidant supplements.
One study focused on assessing the effect of vitamin C on the risk of allergic rhinitis in children has shown favorable results. This study has revealed that the intake of vitamin C is negatively associated with the increase in the risk of symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
The group of children whose vitamin C consumption was increased had fewer symptoms of allergic rhinitis. These findings suggest that improving the intake of antioxidant nutrients, particularly that of vitamin C, could influence the risk of allergies in a positive manner.
These studies have provided evidence linking the use of antioxidants to the reduced risk of allergies. Antioxidants can minimize oxidative stress and inflammation in the body’s healthy tissues and prevent the exacerbated response of the immune system thereby inhibiting attacks of asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis.
These benefits of antioxidants could be improved further by using supplements that regulate immune system functions. Patients who suffer from allergies can use immunity-boosting supplements like BioPro-Plus in combination with antioxidants.
BioPro-Plus could help to regulate the activities of immune cells and prevent a hypersensitive response to allergens. This supplement could also reduce inflammation in healthy tissues by supporting the normal activities of the immune cells. The combined use of BioPro-Plus and antioxidants is expected to provide significant relief from recurrent episodes of allergies.