Lung Disease: Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal hereditary disease primarily marked by digestive malabsorption (the body doesn't readily absorb the nutrients from one's diet) as well as chronic pulmonary (lung) infections. The malabsorption syndrome found in cystic fibrosis patients is primarily due to deficiencies in the pancreatic enzymes. In addition, the epithelial cells of the lung's airways also do not function well, leading to increased mucus accumulation and bacterial infections. The damage to the lungs that characterizes this disease is again due to the tremendous oxidative stress within the lining.

Several clinical trials have demonstrated that cystic fibrosis patients are seriously deficient in vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene, and the important antioxidant glutathione found within the lung's epithelial cell and epithelial fluid lining. This continual inflammatory process depletes essential antioxidants needed to protect the patient's lungs, and because of the ongoing malabsorption problem, the patient can't replenish nutrients adequately.

Cystic fibrosis is a perfect example of what happens when our natural immune and antioxidant defence systems cannot function properly. The accumulative oxidative damage to the lung tissue occurs quite rapidly, and the maturity of these people dies before they reach their adult years.

Recent studies have brought encouraging results, namely the potential to slow down the progression of this disease by using nutritional extracts. By combining pancreatic enzyme supplements with potent antioxidant supplementation in patients with cystic fibrosis, researchers were able to bring vitamin E & beta- carotene levels almost back to normal ("oxidative stress in cystic fibrosis: Dietary & Metabolic factors" Journal of the American College of Nutrition) clinical trials also indicate that when patients take essential antioxidant nutrients, oxidative stress comes back under control and the patient's depleted immune systems also improve so they can fight chronic infections better.

Such clinical studies provide physicians with a strong rationale for supplementing their patients with cystic fibrosis with potent nutritional extracts and pancreatic enzymes. Nutritional extracts can only help improve a patient's condition and hopefully slow down the progression of the disease.

Our lungs are probably most vulnerable to the toxic world we now find ourselves having to live in. While our bodies have a tremendous natural defence, they can still become overwhelmed. We must build up these natural defences to their optimum level. Isn't it amazing how much better patients with asthma, allergies, and cystic fibrosis do when they learn how to support their lung's natural antioxidant & immune systems with nutritional extracts? Is this the miracle you've been looking for as well?