Nutrients to Reduce Allergic Symptoms

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2001 by Melvyn R. Werbach

While controlled clinical trials are often lacking, many nutrients appear to affect atopic allergic reactions. We will review some highlights from the literature.

Vitamins

Niacin

Both niacin and niacinamide inhibit mast cell degranulation and histamine release. [1] Pruritus, when caused by chloroquine treatment for malaria, is prevented about half of the time by a concurrent antihistamine, [2] and 50 mg of niacin has been shown under double-blind conditions to substitute for an antihistamine in reducing pruritus in these patients. [3] In addition, a 1944 open trial noted rapid improvement in patients with bronchial asthma or hay fever following niacinamide injections. [4]

Pantothenic Acid

Anecdotal reports suggest that pantothenic acid supplementation may treat allergic rhinitis and possibly other allergic conditions. [5,6] Controlled trials are needed to confirm this.

Vitamin B12

Preliminary research suggests that regular vitamin B12 injections may relieve a number of allergic conditions. In an open trial, 18 out of 20 patients with intractable asthma, 9 out of 10 patients with chronic urticaria, and all 6 patients with chronic contact dermatitis improved following weekly vitamin B12 injections. [7] Although we lack double-blind studies confirming these findings, Jonathan Wright has treated about 100 patients and reported excellent results, particularly in children who, he found, almost always respond. He gives intramuscular B12 (1-3 cc depending upon age) daily for the first month, then 3 times weekly for 2 weeks, then once weekly. [8]

Vitamin C

Low plasma ascorbate levels are correlated with elevated blood histamine, [9] and supplementation with vitamin C reduces blood histamine in subjects with either low plasma ascorbate or elevated blood histamine. [10] Anecdotal reports of patients with allergic rhinitis suggest that ascorbate supplementation is effective, with a greater percentage of patients responding to higher doses. [11] However, in doses up to 4 grams daily, ascorbic acid failed to suppress both the histamine skin response and the nasal response to allergens [12]; thus its efficacy for allergic responses at these doses is questionable.

Vitamin E

While the research is preliminary, higher concentrations of vitamin E intake appear to be associated with lower serum concentrations of immunoglobulin E (a protein associated with atopic allergy) and a lower frequency of allergen sensitization. [13] Moreover, when vitamin E was given to volunteers for 5 to 7 days prior to the injection of histamine, there was far less swelling around the injection site. [14]

Minerals

Calcium

For several decades, calcium administration has been used to treat allergic disorders of the skin and respiratory tract. In a recent double-blind crossover study, oral supplementation with 1 gram of calcium significantly inhibited allergen-induced swelling of the nasal mucosa. [15] Moreover, in a double-blind crossover study of asthma patients with airway obstruction, calcium, combined with calciferol [vitamin D2], was effective in improving various breathing measures. [16]

Magnesium

Intracellularly, magnesium inhibits the action of calcium in releasing chemical mediators of allergic reactions from basophils and mast cells. [17] Chronic magnesium deficiency may provoke allergic reactions, [18] and animal work has demonstrated a synergistic effect of antigen challenge and severe magnesium deficiency on blood and urinary histamine levels. [19]

In the absence of deficiency, magnesium supplementation has not been demonstrated to be beneficial.

Essential Fatty Acids

The increasing intake of linoleic acid (an omega-6 essential fatty acid) as compared to alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 essential fatty acid) correlates with an increased prevalence of atopic diseases. [20] Moreover, allergic individuals may demonstrate abnormal levels of omega-6 essential fatty acids, with elevated levels of linoleic acid and depressed levels of the products of linoleic acid metabolism. [21] Levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids may also be depressed: [22]

Since the essential fatty acids are precursors to the prostaglandins, these abnormalities may result in prostaglandin deficiencies and imbalances that could affect the allergic response. [22] In fact, anecdotal reports suggest that essential fatty acid supplementation may reduce allergic symptoms in individuals whose allergic symptoms are part of essential fatty acid deficiency.

Doctor Werbach cautions that the nutritional treatment of illness should be supervised by physicians or practitioners whose training prepares them to recognize serious illness and to integrate nutritional interventions safely into the treatment plan.

References

(1.) Bekier E, Maslinski CZ. Antihistaminic action of nicotinamide. Agents Actions 4[3]:196, 1974

(2.) Okor RS Responsiveness of chloroquine-induced pruritus to antihistamine therapy - a clinical survey. J Clin Pharm Ther 15[2]:147-50, 1990

(3.) Ajayi AA et al. The effects of prednisone and niacin on chloroquine-induced pruritus in malaria. Ear J Clin Pharmacol 41[4]:383-5, 1991