Emphysema

• Antioxidant nutrient deficiency
• Inhalation of cadmium fumes and other pollutants
• Smoking.

Lung function and chest X-rays were compared in 101 men who had worked with copper-cadmium alloy, compared with a control group. The cadmium workers had significantly more lung abnormalities putting them at risk of emphysema. Davison AG et al: Cadmium fume inhalation and emphysema. Lancet 1(8587):663-7, 1988.

Experimental animals develop diseases similar to human bronchitis and emphysema from exposure to free radicals from pollutants (nitrous oxide and ozone). Vitamins C and E are protective against these free radicals, particularly in doses higher than the current Recommended Daily Amounts (RDA). The authors conclude that current RDAs are inadequate for maximum protection against air pollution levels. Menzel DB: Antioxidant vitamins and the prevention of lung disease. Ann NY Acad Sci 669:141-55, 1992.

High vitamin C levels effectively contribute to protection from heart and lung diseases associated with smoking. Lehr HA et al: Vitamin C prevents cigarette smoke-induced leukocyte aggregation and adhesion to endothelium in vivo. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 91(16):7688-92, 1994.

2,510 patients with bronchitis, bronchial asthma and emphysema were treated for 4 weeks with the amino acid N-acetylcysteine in addition to the patients' usual medications. All selected parameters improved, especially for bronchitis. Volkl KP et al: Therapy of respiratory tract diseases with N-acetylcysteine. An open therapeutic observation study of 2,512 patients (in German). Fortsch Med 110(18):346-50, 1992.

Inflammatory processes induced in lung tissue by smoking can, by hydrogen peroxide production, lead to the failure of an enzyme which protects against protein destruction. The inhalation of the amino acid glutathione could help to protect against this damage by inhibiting hydrogen peroxide. Gressier B et al: Protective role of glutathione on alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor inactivation by the myeloperoxidase system. Hypothetic study for therapeutic strategy in the management of smokers' emphysema. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 8(6):518-24, 1994.