The relationship between asthma and obesity is a complex one. Is asthma, in part, caused by the typically sedentary lifestyle of those who are obese, or does the lack of exercise that asthma can induce lead to obesity?
Someone who is suffering from asthma may also be exposed to frequent steroid treatments, which are well-known for causing problems such as weight gain, which could lead to obesity and cause the aggravation of asthma, or even the initiation of asthmatic conditions.
Either way, the link between the two conditions is well-known and can have a crushing effecting on wellness and wellbeing. A new supplement may now help to alleviate the symptoms of the respiratory condition, especially when it is linked to obesity.
It is thought that an imbalance of arginine could, in part, be responsible for respiratory trouble, particularly in those who have late-onset asthma.
The study that has led to the discovery of this amino acid treatment has discovered that asthma is a condition that has many different areas to it, and is far more complex than one simple cause and effect. A variety of underlying conditions may be contributory factors.
One (potential) contributory factor was discussed – that of obesity – during the study, and it was found that obese patients were exhaling reduced levels of nitric acid, a compound that plays a role in the human body by relaxing the airways and blood vessels.
Blood samples were then collected, which showed that late-onset asthma patients who were also obese had lower levels of the amino acid arginine than the samples collected from early onset asthma patients.
Arginine can be purchased as a dietary supplement over the counter, but in this form it is quickly metabolised by the human body and this makes it less effective as a treatment. A different supplement called citrulline actually boosts the body’s natural production of arginine, and can be taken in larger doses with no ill effects, making it a more useful supplement.
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