Asthma: what happens in the airways, and how can flavonoids help?

In asthma, however, the target is the lining of the bronchi: the airway wall swells, the smooth muscle contracts, and excess mucus is produced. The result is shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and coughing, which are typically most intense at night or in the early morning.

It is important to know that not all asthma is allergic in origin. An attack can also be triggered by exercise, stress, cold air or air pollution.

What happens in asthmatic airways?

When a foreign substance, whether pollen, house dust mites or pet dander, enters the airways, the immune system sets off a chain reaction. IgE antibodies bind to mast cells, which release histamine and inflammatory substances called leukotrienes. These immediately contract the muscles around the bronchi, swell the mucous membrane and increase mucus production.

The bigger problem begins when, in asthma, this inflammatory response – swelling, mucus production, and muscle spasm – does not fully subside even after the attack has passed. Long-standing inflammation gradually remodels the airway walls: they become thicker and stiffer, and the bronchi remain persistently narrowed. This process is called airway remodelling, and it is one of the reasons asthma can worsen over time.

In inflamed tissues, free radicals accumulate: reactive molecules that cause further damage to cells.

This is where flavonoids enter the picture. These plant antioxidants can not only neutralise free radicals, but certain types may also influence inflammatory processes themselves.

The causes of asthma – from pollen to air pollution

Asthma develops when genetic predisposition meets environmental triggers. Alongside the classic triggers, such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander and mould, we now know that modern lifestyles can increase risk in their own right. Air pollution, especially PM2.5 fine particulate matter, tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, excessive antibiotic use, and stress can all contribute to the airway immune system becoming hypersensitive.

Researchers believe that changes in diet have also contributed to the epidemic-like rise in asthma over recent decades. As processed foods have become more common, many people consume fewer vegetables and fruits, and therefore fewer protective flavonoids. The prevalence of asthma is highest in industrialised, urbanised regions – precisely where air pollution and antioxidant-poor diets place a combined burden on the airways.

Natural immune support: what can you do alongside medication?

Inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators are the foundation of asthma treatment, and nothing replaces them. However, the way you shape your lifestyle also matters.

Avoiding allergens, as far as this is realistically possible, is the first step: a HEPA-filter air purifier, frequent changes of bedding, and keeping humidity between 40-50% can reduce the presence of dust mites and mould. An anti-inflammatory diet – rich in flavonoid-containing vegetables and fruits such as broccoli, apples, berries and green tea – may support the body’s antioxidant defences over the long term. Finally, regular, controlled exercise is also recommended for people with asthma. With proper warm-up and an intensity agreed upon with your doctor, training is not the enemy but an ally.

Flavonoids as anti-inflammatory compounds – what does the science show?

Flavonoids are one of the largest families of compounds in the plant world, with more than six thousand known types. Their shared feature is antioxidant activity, but some flavonoids may also intervene in specific steps of inflammatory and allergic processes. RIAVITA flaCYTO combines a range of plant extracts with vitamin E in the form of capsules, to increase the diversity if ingested flavonoids. Let’s look at what the research says about the key ingredients:

Black seed (Nigella sativa) contains thymoquinone, which, in a rigorous placebo-controlled human study, improved lung function in participants with asthma and reduced measurable airway inflammation. The bronchodilatory and immunomodulatory effects of black seed in respiratory conditions have also been supported by several clinical studies.

The catechins in green tea, especially EGCG, are powerful antioxidants that act against oxidative stress in the airways. Earlier human studies suggest that green tea may help reduce IgE levels in people with allergic asthma, which can directly moderate the intensity of the allergic reaction.

Quercetin, provided in flaCYTO by Sophora japonica extract, showed an inverse association with asthma prevalence in a Finnish epidemiological study of 10,000 people: those who consumed more quercetin were less likely to develop the disease. Laboratory studies have shown that quercetin helps prevent mast-cell degranulation, thereby inhibiting histamine release. In other words, it acts on the very chain reaction discussed at the beginning of this article.

We have also written about quercetin before and its effect on reducing allergic symptoms.

Apigenin, the active compound in chamomile, inhibited the production of the IL-4 and IL-13 cytokines under laboratory conditions. These are the signalling molecules responsible for maintaining and amplifying allergic inflammation in the airways. For now, this is an in vitro finding, meaning it has not yet been confirmed in human studies, but the direction is promising.

The impact of total flavonoid intake has also been investigated in several large-scale studies. A Danish study followed 56,000 people for 23 years and found that flavonoid intake above 500 mg per day reduced mortality linked to chronic diseases by 15-20%. The protective effect was even more pronounced among smokers and regular alcohol consumers.

A 2025 analysis based on the American NHANES database also found an association between higher flavonoid intake and lower asthma prevalence. For the sake of objectivity, it is important to add that a large UK Biobank study did not confirm this association. The results so far are therefore promising, but not uniform, and further research is needed.

Who is RIAVITA flaCYTO suitable for, and who should avoid it?

flaCYTO is primarily designed for people looking for a scientifically grounded, natural supplement alongside their medical treatment. It may be especially useful as antioxidant support during asthma treatment, for people with frequent respiratory complaints, and for smokers or former smokers.

The product should not be taken by anyone who is allergic to any of its ingredients. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before use.

Dosage and what to expect

flaCYTO capsules should be taken after meals, with plenty of water, according to the dosage recommended on the product label. Remember: the epidemiological studies referenced in this article examined flavonoid intake habits over months and years, not a few days of supplementation. In the human Nigella sativa study, improvements were measured within weeks, but individual responses may vary. For this reason, it is worth taking the product consistently for at least 4-6 weeks before assessing the effect. The 90-capsule pack is suitable for starting this kind of sustained course.

When should you see a doctor?

If you experience persistently recurring shortness of breath, night-time episodes of breathlessness, wheezing or chest tightness, you should definitely see a doctor. Diagnosing and treating asthma is a medical task. These symptoms are not minor discomforts that simply “go away on their own”; they may be signs of a chronic disease. Blue lips or being unable to speak during an attack requires immediate medical attention.