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Vitamin E decreases COPD risk

Category: General Health

Individuals at risk for lung diseases may want to consider a vitamin E test, as a recent study has shown that the nutrient can decrease the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The study found that vitamin E may act to protect lung cells from damage caused by free radicals, compounds known to destroy cells in the body. Vitamin E is thought to possess antioxidative properties that can block the effects of these compounds.

Anne Hermetet Agler, the study's lead investigator, noted that the findings could benefit anyone at risk for developing COPD, as vitamin E was shown to benefit both smokers and non-smokers.
Smokers are generally at the highest risk for developing the disease.

"As lung disease develops, damage occurs to sensitive tissues through several proposed processes, including inflammation and damage from free radicals," she said. "The findings from our study suggest that increasing vitamin E prevents COPD."

The lung disease is a major cause of disability and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.