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.
The right mix of nutrients in your diet may ease COPD symptoms and may prevent it from getting worse. COPD — or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — is a progressive inflammatory lung disease that makes breathing difficult. While there is no cure, treatments focus on relieving symptoms and slowing the disease’s progression through interventions including oxygen therapy, corticosteroids, and lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and improving nutrition. Additionally, some research suggests certain vitamins and supplements may help lessen COPD symptoms and improve disease management, though evidence isn’t yet definitive. “It's a promising field, but more large-scale clinical trials need to be conducted before we can make any broad universal recommendation to everyone,” says Mariah Kay Jackson, PhD, RDN, assistant professor of medical nutrition at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
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
Omega-3 fatty acids may play a key role in maintaining lung function and decreasing airway inflammation in the progression of COPD, says Dr. Jackson. Research from Taiwan of 1,610 people with COPD reported a link between those eating a Mediterranean diet — traditionally high in omega-3-rich seafood and plants — and reduced mortality. Regarding omega-3 supplements, researchers in Hungary who analyzed 400 COPD patients ages 61 to 73 reported that the 19 patients who took daily omega-3 supplements could walk farther distances and encountered fewer exacerbating symptoms.
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
Vitamins A, C, and E are known for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants, found naturally in many foods, defend against free radicals like air pollution and smoke before they can damage your cells, which can reduce the risk of chronic disease development.
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.
Build meals around a colorful plate of fruits and vegetables, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries — all of which are great sources of these vitamins, suggests Julia Zumpano, RD, a registered dietitian based in Cleveland with 20 years of outpatient experience who works in the Mayo Clinic Healthcare Preventive Cardiology Clinic and is the nutrition media liaison for the Cleveland Clinic’s Center of Human Nutrition.
Jackson also prefers a whole-foods route over taking supplements. “People should try to get all their nutrients from food first,” she says. For instance, oranges provide almost your daily vitamin C requirements, three grams of fiber, and other nutrients that help fight inflammation, Jackson explains.
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
In addition to supporting your heart, muscles, and nerves, calcium helps the lungs function and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. This is important because using steroids long-term (common in COPD treatments) can increase calcium needs.
“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
More than half of those with COPD or emphysema, one of the two main types of COPD, develop a vitamin D deficiency at some point, which can contribute to a decline in lung function over time. Studies have suggested that steroid therapy can affect vitamin D absorption, potentially triggering deficiencies.
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
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties.One Japanese review of lab and animal studies and human trials suggests that curcumin may benefit people with COPD by reducing lung inflammation. However, additional clinical trials are needed. “Data from human clinical trials are limited,” Mielnik says. “There is not enough evidence for me to recommend this [as a supplement] in practice.”
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.
Turmeric supplements can interact with certain medications, including chemotherapy medications (including camptothecin, mechlorethamine, and doxorubicin), blood thinners (warfarin), immunosuppressive drugs (tacrolimus), and pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and indomethacin). Other concerns include increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal upset, and abdominal pain.
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.
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Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.
He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.
He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.
Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.
Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of TheAmerican Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University (1978), where she majored in English and was editor of the student newspaper for three years.
No matter the weather around her eastern Pennsylvania home, Orenstein either bikes 25 to 30 miles or walks at least 6 miles every day. Her one indulgence is blueberry pancakes — but only after biking a long distance.
Carmen Chai is a Canadian journalist and award-winning health reporter. Her interests include emerging medical research, exercise, nutrition, mental health, and maternal and pediatric health. She has covered global healthcare issues, including outbreaks of the Ebola and Zika viruses, anti-vaccination movements, and chronic diseases like obesity and Alzheimer’s.
Chai was a national health reporter at Global News in Toronto for 5 years, where she won multiple awards, including the Canadian Medical Association award for health reporting. Her work has also appeared in the Toronto Star, Vancouver Province, and the National Post. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto.
