From 'Miracle Sugars' by Rita Elkins M.H. Asthma and Allergies: Misguided Inflammation
There are thousands of papers demonstrating glyconutritional immune system support. Asthma and allergies: misguided inflammation:
Inflammation is nature's way of protecting us from infection. For example, when that pesky sliver gets under your skin, macrophages and other white blood cells rush to the site to fight the alien invader. As a result, the area becomes red, swollen, and tender until the rescue operation is complete.
Sometimes the inflammatory response command is issued when it shouldn't be. Asthma and most allergies deal with exaggerated inflammatory responses. In asthma, irritation causes the bronchial tubes in the lungs to constrict and eventually breakdown. Allergies occur when immune cells mistake a substance like pollen for a foreign invader. In this case, the inflammatory process causes histamine to be released from mast cells, causing congestion, itching, sneezing, etc. Typically, antihistamine drugs are used to inhibit this response. Interestingly, one of the essential eight sugars(required in our body) does the same thing.
Researchers belonging to the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kuamamoto University, Japan, discovered that the sugar called N-acetyl-neuraminic acid blocked the releases of histamine, the culprit chemical in allergic reactions.
Concerning these studies, the Lefkowitz research team of the University of South Florida says, "Taken in their entirety, the above studies suggest that glyconutrients, because of their saccharide composition, may represent a new approach to inhibiting the inflammatory response. This is an area we believe definitely merits further research. Inhibiting inflammation would benefit numerous diseases including asthma." The possibilities for glyconutrient supplementation as a therapy for allergic and asthmatic inflammation are truly exciting.
