Antioxidants May Protect Lungs Against Ozone Pollution

Vitamin C and E supplementation may protect children with asthma from the effects of ozone exposure, researchers reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. A total of 158 children with asthma who lived in Mexico City were randomized to vitamin supplements or placebo and were followed from October 1998 to April 2000. In the placebo group, high ozone levels 1 day before testing were associated with significant decreases in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and peak expiratory volume. However, these associations between ozone levels and pulmonary function tests were not found in the supplement group.