Study on the Role of Treatment With Vitamin E on Asthmatic Responses in Allergic Asthmatics

Inclusion Criteria: * Normal health status except for allergic asthma * Physician diagnosis of mild allergic asthma * Positive allergen skin tests to common aeroallergens Exclusion Criteria: * Use of systemic or high doses of inhaled corticosteroids, \>840 mcg of inhaled beclomethasone of its equivalent (as defined in the consensus report (6)) * Past history of severe asthma (as defined in the consensus report (6)) * History of asthma exacerbation within the past month * History of recent upper respiratory infection within the past month * Active immunotherapy for allergic diseases * Significant disease other than allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, such as coronary disease, hypertension, renal failure, anemia, immunodeficiency, cancer, diabetes * Present or remote tobacco smoking * Use of Over The Counter drugs including acetaminophen and pseudoephedrine, herbs, or vitamins * Psychiatric illness that would make adherence to protocol difficult * Inability to give informed consent * Nursing or pregnant women * Woman planning to become pregnant during the study or not using adequate birth control methods (barrier or hormonal methods) * H/o sensitivity to tocopherol-derivatives or medications used during bronchoscopy * Inability to comply with the research protocol