Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy of Ascorbic Acid in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease and oxidative stress may be involved in its pathogenesis. The present study aims at evaluating the therapeutic effects of antioxidant drug Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) in patients of Bronchial Asthma. Method: Patients of Bronchial asthma from outpatient facility of our institute were enrolled for the study and divided into study and control group. Both groups were given inhaled fluticasone and salmeterol and oral theophylline. Ascorbic acid was given in the study group. Each patient was followed up weekly for the assessment of efficacy parameters using pulmonary function test (PFT), clinical symptoms and emergency drug use. Oxidative stress parameters were assessed through the estimation of malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity in the above two patient groups. Results: Although there was statistically significant improvement in pulmonary function tests (p<0.001), clinical symptoms (p<0.05) and emergency drug use (p<0.001) in both treatment groups at the end of 4 weeks but there was no significant difference in these parameters between the two groups. There was statistically significant improvement in malondialdehyde level (p<0.001) and superoxide dismutase activity (p<0.001) in ascorbic acid group only at the end of 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Conclusion: Ascorbic Acid failed to show any significant improvement in the patient symptoms and pulmonary function tests in the study group; however it showed statistically significant improvement in the status of Oxidative Stress.