Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve supplements for safety or effectiveness. Talk to a healthcare professional about whether a supplement is the right fit for your individual health, and about any potential drug interactions or safety concerns.
Check with your doctor before taking supplements for COPD, as some may be dangerous at high doses, interfere with certain medications, or impact other health conditions. If your doctor recommends any for you, buy products that have USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab Approved on the label to ensure they have undergone third-party testing for quality and purity.
Here are five potentially beneficial supplements for those with COPD.
1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Some research suggests that consuming more omega-3-rich foods may help ease COPD symptoms. One study found that a subset of COPD patients in the United States with higher intake of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) from their diets were less likely to experience chronic cough and wheezing.
You can also boost your intake by taking an omega-3 supplement, but check with your physician first, advises Jackson.
While people with COPD are encouraged to eat healthy, such as the Mediterranean diet, omega-3 supplements aren’t a specifically recommended way to manage the disease, says Mark Dransfield, MD, medical director at the University of Alabama’s Lung Health Center in Birmingham, Alabama, and chair of the COPD Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee.
More randomized clinical trials are necessary to further the existing research, he says. “Although there is data showing associations between omega-3 fatty acids and better COPD outcomes, including improved quality of life and lower exacerbation risk, there is no evidence that proves a cause-and-effect relationship,” he explains.
The Bottom Line
Research suggests a diet rich in omega-3s and potentially omega-3 supplements may help some with COPD, yet this is not definitive at this time. But more research is needed to incorporate omega-3 supplements into COPD management guidelines, Dr. Dransfield says. Experts recommend eating foods rich in omega-3s, which may also help COPD symptoms.
2. Vitamins A, C, and E
Some evidence out of Sweden notes that eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E may help prevent COPD. Other research suggests possible benefits for people who already have COPD. One recent review of 26 studies from Hungary found that supplements containing vitamins C and E significantly improved COPD patients’ respiratory function tests, lowered levels of inflammation, and improved exercise tolerance.
Research Jackson spearheaded found that a plant-forward diet focusing on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables supported long-term lung health. “It really shows that one’s food choices can be a complementary intervention for long-term lung health,” she says of her findings.
However, people with COPD can feel full quickly, making it difficult to eat sometimes, Jackson says. Supplements may help in cases like this, but first talk with your doctor to check for potential allergies and interactions with medication.
The Bottom Line
Vitamins A, C, and E are nutritional powerhouses that may help with COPD prevention and symptom management. “Overall, these nutrients are better to get within the diet and not from supplements unless an actual deficiency has been identified,” says Krista Mielnik, RD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition in Cleveland, where she works with patients with COPD. Mielnik notes there are mixed results in trials for these vitamins, and more research is needed, but adds that if you are having trouble eating, your doctor can check for deficiencies that may benefit from a supplement.
3. Calcium
“Calcium is an essential nutrient to minimize bone loss in the setting of frequent steroid use for COPD,” Mielnik says. Good food sources of calcium are almonds, tofu, edamame, white beans, dairy products (like cheese, milk, and yogurt), leafy greens, and fortified plant-based milks, she notes.
Work with a registered dietitian to check if you have a calcium deficiency and assess your dietary intake of calcium to determine if a supplement may be needed, Mielnik recommends. Most adults need 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams (mg) a day.
Calcium supplements are available as calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium malate, and calcium hydroxyapatite. Calcium carbonate is an inexpensive pill or chewable tablet you take with meals, while calcium citrate is a more expensive form of calcium you can take with or without food. People with low levels of stomach acid — common in people over age 50 — may absorb calcium citrate better than calcium carbonate. Mielnik says calcium malate and calcium hydroxyapatite tend to be better absorbed and tolerated than calcium carbonate, which requires stomach acid for absorption.
The Bottom Line
Long-term steroid use has been linked to lower levels of calcium in the body, leaving COPD patients at an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures, Dransfield says. “Because of that, it is very reasonable to measure bone density in patients with COPD and to consider supplemental calcium,” he says. COPD patients on steroid therapy should talk to their doctor about getting enough calcium every day, whether through diet or a supplement, Mielnik says.
4. Vitamin D
Research from India has shown that low vitamin D is associated with more COPD symptom exacerbations. And a separate meta-analysis from China found vitamin D supplementation improved lung function and reduced symptom flare-ups. Additionally, a meta-analysis published in the United Kingdom found that vitamin D supplementation was associated with a 45 percent reduction in moderate to severe lung attacks among COPD patients deficient in vitamin D.
A vitamin D deficiency may not have noticeable symptoms, notes Dransfield, so it’s important to ask your doctor about getting a blood test to check your levels.
Dietary sources include fortified dairy and cereal products, trout, and sockeye salmon. Your skin also makes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Smoking impairs vitamin D absorption, so that’s another good reason to quit.
Jackson says your body needs adequate vitamin D to properly absorb calcium, so if you have a calcium deficiency, you may also need to increase your vitamin D intake.
The Bottom Line
Current guidelines don’t recommend vitamin D supplements as part of routine treatment, notes Dransfield. However, vitamin D deficiency is a concern for COPD patients, with a lack of the vitamin being tied to worse outcomes. Talk to your doctor about testing your vitamin D levels, and if you have a deficiency, ask if an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement is right for you, Dransfield says.
5. Turmeric
It won’t hurt to add turmeric into your day-to-day cooking, but because it has poor absorption and fast elimination from the body, you likely won’t reap tangible benefits that address COPD symptoms, Jackson says.
The Bottom Line
Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that may improve lung health and overall inflammation in the body, but current research is limited. Check with your doctor first because, in some cases, turmeric supplements can cause adverse drug reactions, Mielnik says. Turmeric spice is considered safe for most people to include in their daily diet.
The Takeaway
- Limited research suggests potential links between some vitamins and dietary supplements and slowing COPD’s progression and easing its symptoms — however, current COPD treatment guidelines don’t generally recommend supplements in treatment plans.
- Nutrients such as omega-3s, calcium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E are found in many foods and may support people with COPD, especially for those who have nutritional deficiencies and certain high-risk patients.
- Ask your doctor if you have nutritional deficiencies and if supplementation is appropriate for you, considering that many supplements interact with drugs, including pain relievers, chemotherapy treatments, blood thinners, and immunosuppressive drugs.
- Always check with your healthcare team before you add any vitamin or dietary supplement to your COPD management plan, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have other chronic conditions.
Additional reporting by Julia Califano.
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