Insight from Experts

• Benjamin M. Gaston, M.D., reported that studies conducted at the University of Virginia indicate that people with asthma have lower than normal pH levels compared to patients without asthma, according to a "Pulmonary Reviews" article published in 2000.
  
  

Study Specifics

• The research included the study of such compounds as nitrite, nitrate and hydrogen peroxide, which are affected by pH, and determined that all asthma patients in the study had low pH levels.
  
  

Target Group

• The study targeted 22 acute asthma patients, 19 patients with acute, non-respiratory diseases and 12 patients who had stable asthma. The study did not include smokers, people with other chronic diseases or people with signs or symptoms of pneumonia.
  
  

Results

• The study indicated that pH levels for patients with early acute asthma were about two points below normal. It also indicated that asthmatics who used cortico-steroid therapy for treatment had normal to slightly above average pH levels.
  
  

Potential

• While the study indicates a link between pH levels and asthma, the next step of study is to research why the link exists in order to determine and recommend more specific therapies for asthma treatment.