Health
Salt may worsen exercise-induced asthma
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 27, 2005
A diet high in salt may exacerbate asthma triggered by exercise by increasing inflammation in the airways, according to a study published in the June Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
Researchers randomized 24 subjects to either a low- or high-salt diet for two weeks and tested their lung capacity before and after exercise. The lung function markers were significantly worse after exercise in those on a high-salt diet than in those taking in less sodium. The forced expiratory volume was decreased by 27%. Pulmonary capillary volume and several markers of inflammation were also increased.
Authors of the paper suggested that this study demonstrates the impact of diet on this condition.
"These findings show that modifying your diet has the potential to modify a disease state," said Timothy Mickleborough, PhD, lead author and assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at Indiana University.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/06/27/hlbf0627.htm.
