Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbations Reduced With Antioxidant Supplements

Supplementation with antioxidants could help to reduce the risk of respiratory exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a recent study.1

Dietary antioxidant deficiencies are common in patients with cystic fibrosis, which could contribute to oxidative stress in these patients, the researchers explained.

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In order to evaluate the effects of antioxidant supplementation markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as clinical outcomes, researchers conducted an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial involving 73 patients with pancreatic insufficient CF with FEV1 between 40% and 100% predicted. The patients were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of an antioxidant-enriched multivitamin or a control multivitamin.

Endpoints of the study included systemic antioxidant concentrations, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, clinical outcomes (including pulmonary exacerbations, anthropometric measures, and pulmonary function), safety, and tolerability.

Over the 16 weeks, change in sputum myeloperoxidase concentration was not significantly different between the groups, but systemic antioxidant concentrations significantly increased in the antioxidant treated group, while circulating calprotectin and myeloperoxidase decreased in the treated group, compared with the control group.

Risk of pulmonary exacerbation requiring antibiotics was lower in the treatment group than in the control group, and lung function and growth endpoints did not differ between the groups.

“While the antioxidant supplement did not appear to exert sustained anti-inflammatory effects, we believe its effect on time to first pulmonary exacerbation was significant and clinically meaningful,” the researchers concluded.2

—Michael Potts

Reference:

  1. Sagel SD, Khan U, Jain R, et al. Effects of an antioxidant-enriched multivitamin in cystic fibrosis: randomized, controlled, multicenter trial [published online April 24, 2018]. AJRCCM. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201801-0105OC.
  2. Supplemental Antioxidants May Reduce Exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis [press release]. July 2, 2018. http://www.newswise.com/articles/supplemental-antioxidants-may-reduce-exacerbations-in-cystic-fibrosis.