Hey everyone,
My names Jeff, and I am a spouse to someone with Cystic Fibrosis. I am posting on this forum to share my research efforts and observations regarding Cystic Fibrosis and the use of orthomolecular supplements to target key deficiencies that may greatly effect the physiological manifestation of the disease.
Please note I am not a medical doctor and am in no way giving medical advice to others. This is all research/education purposes only.
Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic illness that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system. It is caused by a genetic defect of a protein in the body known as the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR). Multiple systems necessary for maintaining health in the body have been indentified that are interdependent on the proper functioning of the CFTR. These include:
Antioxidant Levels in the Lungs (glutathione and vitamin c)
Fatty Acid Balance
Researches at the Children's Hospital & Research Center At Oakland have been studying the relationship between the CFTR and Vitamin C and have discovered that vitamin C plays a role in the normal hydration of airway surfaces, and that vitamin C deficiency may lead to dry, sticky mucus membranes lining the airway.
"When the airway is not sufficiently hydrated, it becomes susceptible to infections, which may eventually cause asthma attacks in asthmatics," said Illek. "Increased intake of vitamin C may loosen those sticky airway secretions and improve clearance in the respiratory tract. Vitamin C may prove to be an effective, safe and low-cost treatment to improve current therapies, including bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics."
On August 9th, 2011 my spouse began taking 10 packets daily of lypo-spheric vitamin c from livon labs. She took 5 packets in the morning and 5 at night. At this time her FEV1 had slowly been decreaseing over the years and was stable at 46% for months, the doctors were suggesting that this might be her new 'baseline' because it would not rise up any higher.
For those who don't know the FEV1 is the volume exhaled during the first second of a forced expiratory maneuver started from the level of total lung capacity. It's used to measure the progression of chronic lung diseases.
Also note, she was taking 10g of DHA/EPA from molecular distilled fish oil and doing some sort of cardio workout each day, such as 10minutes on a stair stepper.
On August 17th her FEV1 had already risen to 52% and sputum colour had changed to a much nicer looking colour.
A steady rise was witnessed and by September 11th her fev1 was 67% a number that she had not blown in atleast 5 years
We then switched to a different liposomal product containing Vitamin C, Glutathione, Resveratrol, Curcumin, Coq10, and since then her FEV1 hit 72% a number which she has not seen atleast 6 years.
I have to go for now, i will post more tonight.
Here is these research I originally collected...
Research
Glutathione
New Insights Into the Pathogenesis of Cystic Fibrosis
http://www.glutathioneexperts.com/pdfs/glutathione-cystic-fibrosis-6.pdf
Systematic deficiency of glutathione in cystic fibrosis
http://jap.physiology.org/content/75/6/2419.abstract
The importance of glutathione in human disease
http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maxintern.com%2Fglutathioninhumandisease.pdf&rct=j&q=glutathione%20in%20human%20disease%20pdf&ei=4T6lTYTZD8r10gG-6ujoCA&usg=AFQjCNFMJYdS5Qm4cJB5KTt5Lq5a-00jpQ&cad=rja
CFTR directly mediates nucleotide-regulated glutathione flux
http://www.nature.com/emboj/journal/v22/n9/pdf/7595104a.pdf
Glutathione metabolism and its implications for health
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/134/3/489.full.pdf+html
Improvement of alveolar glutathione and lung function but not oxidative state in cystic fibrosis
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/reprint/169/7/822.pdf
Improvement in clinical markers in CF patients using a reduced glutathione regimen
http://uvicf.org/researchnewsite/glutathionenewsite/JCF449.pdf
Glutathione exhibits antibacterial activity and increases tetracycline efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
http://www.springerlink.com/content/x2062p64w10683w8/
Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin directly oxidizes glutathione and decreases its levels in airway epithelial cells
http://ajplung.physiology.org/content/287/1/L94.full.pdf+html
Glutathione dysregulation and the etiology and progression of human disease
http://r.b5z.net/i/u/10062314/f/GSH_Article_-_Biol._Chem_Mar_2009.pdf
Vitamin C
Vitamin C Research Hints At New Treatment Of Respiratory Disorders
http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx ... d=15486320
Vitamin C controls the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator chloride channel
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9174484
Plasma vitamin C concentrations in patients with cystic fibrosis: evidence of associations with lung inflammation
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9174484
The New Potential of Vitamin C by Steve Hickey PhD and Hilary Roberts PhD
http://www.unovita.no/files/The%20new%2 ... in%20C.PDF
The Use of Vitamin C as an Antibiotic - Fred R. Klenner, M.D
http://injectablevitaminc.com/images/Ch10.pdf
Virus Pneumonia and Its Treatment With Vitamin C - Dr. Fred R. Klenner, M.D.
http://www.whale.to/v/c/klenner2.html
Orthomolecular asthma treatment
http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources ... 1n08.shtml
Lack of Vitamin C Linked to Respiratory Disorders
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=136
Safety of High Dose Vitamin C
http://www.crnusa.org/safetypdfs/007CRN ... taminC.pdf
Vitamin C, Titrating to Tolerance - Dr. Robert F. Cathcart, M.D
http://www.orthomed.com/titrate.htm