W. Sumera

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, Sept 2017

Air pollution is a major environmental risk to human health and wellbeing. According to WHO reports in 2012, ambient (outdoor) and indoor air pollution was linked to seven million premature deaths worldwide. Most of them were attributed to cardiovascular diseases (stroke and ischemic heart disease), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and acute lower respiratory infections in children. Yet 92% of the world population lives in places that exceed the WHO air quality guidelines. On the other hand, laboratory and clinical studies indicate that a nutritious diet and/or intake of micronutrients with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties may ameliorate many harmful health effects caused by polluted air.

This review is composed of two parts: Part I addresses cellular and health aspects associated with human exposure to polluted air and Part II (to be published in the next edition of our Journal) will discuss potential biological mechanisms underlying the protective effects of vitamins B, C, and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and sulforaphane against air pollutants, as demonstrated in human studies.

Full Study: