The Effects of NOx and Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Asthmatics

Inclusion Criteria

• Adequate completion of informed consent process with written documentation
• Male and female patients, ≥ 18 - 65 yrs old
• Diagnosis of asthma: based on previous physician diagnosis and either baseline pre-bronchodilator FEV1 50% or greater predicted with a 12% or greater bronchodilator response to 4 puffs of albuterol or PC20 methacholine (16 mg) if no BD response.If the subject is not currently on an ICS/ ICS LABA, PC20 should be 2.0) at screening (Associated with higher ADMA levels)
• Current statins use (statins lower ADMA levels), patients may stop and re-enroll after 2 weeks of stopping statins
• Positive pregnancy test
• Intolerance or allergy to the intervention drugs
• Current or recent (within 30 days) in an investigational treatment study.
• Unable or unlikely to complete study assessments or the study intervention (i.e. bronchoscopy) poses undue risk to patient in the opinion of the Investigator.
• Any kind of oral nitrates such as nitroglycerin or already taking supplements
• History of ICU admission/intubation due to asthma in the past year;
• More than three systemic corticosteroid requiring asthma exacerbations in the past year
• Systemic steroid dependent asthma (no daily oral steroids- short term therapy for asthma exacerbation is permitted)
• Use of mouthwash containing chlorhexidine (lowers NO) within 1 week prior to screening and throughout the study
• Untreated sleep apnea
• Hgb A1C ≥7
• Daily use of PPI's (Proton Pump Inhibitor) or H2 Blockers for GERD (it is permitted to take on an occasional basis- no more than 1x per week. If participants wash out of these meds for 1 week, they can enroll)
• Use of biologics for asthma/allergies unless there is a 4 month washout prior to enrollment (the washout for biologics is done for clinical reasons and not specifically for inclusion for the study).
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse for ≥1 year
• Breastfeeding
• Any other condition and/or situation that causes the investigator to deem a subject unsuitable for the study (e.g. due to expected study medication non-compliance, inability to medically tolerate the study procedures, or a subject's unwillingness to comply with study-related procedures.