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Respiratory Health and Florida Orange Juice

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes inflammation in the airways of the lungs making it hard to breath. In Canada, asthma is the third most common chronic disease in adults and the most common chronic disease among children. It’s estimated that over 3.8 million people are currently suffering from asthma, and about 850,000 of those are children under the age of 14 years. 1

Asthma is conventionally managed by medications that target opening the airway passages to the lungs and reducing inflammation. However, supporting lung health with a healthy diet has also been encouraged to lessen asthma symptoms.2

Florida Orange juice contains vitamin C and bioactive plant compounds called flavonoids. While more research needs to be conducted, studies suggest these compounds may have a role in lung function and provide anti-inflammatory properties. 3,4


The nutrients found in Florida Orange Juice, such as vitamin C and flavonoids, are being researched for their effect on lung health, asthma and allergy symptoms.

Nutrition Research Corner for Health Professionals

Citrus and Orange Juice

Several observational studies provide support for potential respiratory benefits with the consumption of citrus fruit, and compounds found in citrus, such as vitamin C and the flavonoids hesperidin and naringenin. Some studies have reported these compounds may be associated with decreased incidence and prevalence of asthma and improved asthma-related respiratory symptoms.5-9

In children, higher fruit juice consumption was associated with lower risk of reported asthma and atopic wheeze,10 and, while not reaching statistical significance, increased frequency of 100% orange juice consumption tended (p=0.065) to reduce asthma risk.11  Recent studies support 100% orange juice consumption to not be associated with risk of asthma in adults.12

Vitamin C

Vitamin C may be particularly beneficial in reducing inflammation and providing antioxidant support. Data suggest that vitamin C can support bronchodilation by modulating prostaglandin synthesis.13 Histamine is involved in the asthmatic response of the lungs and the presentation of allergy symptoms, and since vitamin C is required to break down histamine,14 vitamin C is thought to have an anti-histamine effect.15 Indeed, a meta-analysis combining several human clinical studies, reported that vitamin C significantly reduced exercise-induced asthma symptoms by 48 percent in asthmatic adults and adolescents.3

Orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C with an 8-ounce glass (1 cup / 250 ml) providing more than 100% of the Daily Value.* Citrus juices are reported to be a major contributor of vitamin C in the diet.16

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are plant compounds linked to many health benefits, and while the science isn’t conclusive, a potential link might be made to flavonoid consumption and respiratory health. Clinical studies in humans designed to test the effect of flavonoids in 100% orange juice report positive changes in antioxidant enzymes, altered white blood cell gene expression to anti-inflammatory profiles, and lowered oxidative stress biomarkers that protect against DNA damage and lipid peroxidation.4,17 These compounds may support respiratory health by helping mitigate inflammatory mechanisms associated with respiratory illnesses.

In adults, a 31 to 36 percent decrease in asthma incidence was associated with higher intakes of naringenin and hesperidin.9 Furthermore, a systematic review of the effect of flavonoids on upper respiratory tract Infections and immune function found that upper respiratory tract infection was decreased by 33 percent with flavonoid supplementation,18 suggesting flavonoids play a role in respiratory health.

The flavonoids hesperidin and naringenin are found in abundance in citrus, and hesperidin is rarely found in other foods making citrus a unique source of this bioactive compound.19

Vitamin D

There is growing awareness of the probable importance of vitamin D  and how this key vitamin plays an important role in respiratory health by reducing inflammation. Studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D in asthmatic children is associated with exacerbated symptoms, reduced lung function, and increased respiratory inflammation, resulting in increased medication usage.20

While orange juice does not naturally contain vitamin D, 8 ounces (1 cup / 250ml) of fortified orange juice contains 15% of the recommend Daily Value.*

* Values based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrient values may vary based on manufacturer, brand and product types.

References

  1. Asthma Canada: Asthma facts and statistics. Retrieved June 18 from https://asthma.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Asthma-101.pdf.
  2. Garcia-Larsen et al. Allergy. 2016;71:433-442.
  3. Hemila, BMJ Open. 2013;3:002416.
  4. Rangel-Huerta et al. J Nutr. 2015;145(8):1808-1816.
  5. Chatzi et al. Thorax. 2007;62:677-683.
  6. Farchi et al. Eur Respir J. 2003;22:772-780.
  7. Forastiere et al. Thorax. 2000;55:283-288.
  8. Patel et al. Thorax. 2006;61:388-393.
  9. Knekt et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76:560-568.
  10. Saadeh et al. BMC Pub Health. 2015;15:993.
  11. DeChristopher. Pub Health Nutr; 2016;19(1): 123-130.
  12. Dechristopher et al. Br J Nutr. 2018; 119(10):1157-1167.
  13. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Vitamin C. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press; 2000:95-185.
  14. Chatterjee et al. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1975;258(1):24-47.
  15. Vitamin C. Health Professionals Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
  16. Chun et al. J Nutr 2010 ; 140 :317-324.
  17. Milenkovic, PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e26669
  18. Somerville, Adv Nutr. 2016;7(3):488-497.
  19. Bhagwat S, Haytowitz D. USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods Release 3.2. In. Beltsville, MD: Unites States Department of Agriculture; 2015.
  20. Gupta et al. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2012;13(4):236-43.