Surprising Advantage: Vitamins Provide Protection Against Air Pollution
It’s concerning to consider, but we live in an increasingly toxic world. Every year, multinational corporations introduce new chemicals into consumer products without adequate safety testing.
As you read this, your body is likely working to eliminate toxic chemicals you encountered today.
Statistics show that harmful chemicals frequently enter and impact the body. Research indicates that globally, one out of every six deaths is connected to toxins found in the pollutants that contaminate our air, water, and food.1
Fortunately, there are common vitamins that can assist your body in dealing with this chemical onslaught.
Overview
Studies at Columbia University reveal that B vitamins can aid your organs, especially your lungs, in resisting the potentially lethal effects of air pollutants – pollutants responsible for approximately 6.5 million deaths worldwide each year.
The Columbia researchers have shown that with the support of B vitamins, the body’s detoxification systems can better fend off the harm caused by airborne particles, particularly those labeled PM2.5 – consisting of tiny particles 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. (A micrometer is one-millionth of a meter or 0.000039 of an inch.)
When PM2.5 pollution is inhaled, it settles in the throat, nasal passages, windpipe, and lungs, inducing cellular stress. While there are now stricter air pollution regulations in the U.S., PM2.5 remains a health concern. Many cities experience days with unhealthy levels of PM2.5 in the air.
Furthermore, this type of pollution heightens the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, and Parkinson’s disease.
A significant aspect of how this pollution impacts health is its epigenetic influence on gene behavior. (Epigenetics refers to external influences that turn genes off or on, a current area of interest.)
For instance, by affecting DNA methylation – a genetic chemical process that can increase inflammation – PM2.5 pollutants might impair the body’s defenses against cancer, raise blood pressure, and compromise heart health.
However, B vitamins can substantially mitigate these epigenetic changes.
Assisting the Heart
In the research at Columbia University, conducted largely in Toronto, Canada, it was found that taking B vitamins largely counteracts the adverse cardiovascular effects of breathing polluted air on busy city streets.
The specific benefits are noteworthy. Exposure to PM2.5 for two hours, as seen in the Toronto study, elevates resting heart rate, reduces heart rate variability, increases white blood cell count (indicative of inflammation), and boosts lymphocytes.
In a study involving individuals aged 18 to 60, the intake of B vitamins significantly lessened the impact of this pollution on heart rate, as well as reduced total white blood cell count and lymphocyte count.
Other Supplements Can Help, Too
In this investigation, participants were given supplements containing folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Other studies suggest additional ways to protect against pollutants:
- Fish oil: EPA tests indicate that fish oil may alleviate inflammation in the heart and arteries caused by pollutants.6
- Vitamin C: Studies demonstrate that vitamin C can alleviate respiratory issues associated with air pollution.7
- Vitamin E: Research from the UK shows that vitamin E can enhance lung function compromised by airborne pollutants.8
The unfortunate reality is that we encounter toxins daily. Regardless of how clean your environment may seem, pollutants are present in the air, water, and food. It's been reported that air pollutants from China now reach the West Coast of the U.S. Taking dietary supplements can aid your body in combatting a toxic environment.