Lack of long-term effect of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure

Hypertension. 2002 Dec;40(6):797-803. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.0000038339.67450.60.

Abstract

In a double-blinded randomized controlled trial, we investigated the long-term effect of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure. A total of 439 Japanese subjects with atrophic gastritis initially participated in the trial using vitamin C and beta-carotene to prevent gastric cancer. Before and on early termination of beta-carotene supplementation, 134 subjects dropped out of this trial, whereas 120 and 124 subjects took the vitamin C supplement daily at either 50 mg or 500 mg, respectively, for 5 years. Before supplementation, neither systolic nor diastolic blood pressure was significantly related with the serum vitamin C concentration. This relationship was unchanged after adjustment for age, body mass index, and alcohol intake or after stratification by gender. After 5 years, systolic blood pressure significantly increased in groups, regardless of vitamin C dose, compared with baseline. Systolic blood pressure in the high-dose group (500 mg daily) increased from 125.4 to 131.7 mm Hg (5.88 mm Hg increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.11 to 8.65). This value was similar with that of the low-dose group (5.73 mm Hg increase; 95% CI, 2.62 to 8.83) and of the dropout group (4.52 mm Hg increase; 95% CI, 1.26 to 7.77). There was no difference in change of diastolic blood pressure among the 3 groups. In conclusion, we observed no reduction in blood pressure with long-term moderate doses (500 mg/day) of vitamin C supplementation in a high-risk population for stomach cancer and stroke.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Ascorbic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Ascorbic Acid / blood
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Diastole
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastritis, Atrophic / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / prevention & control
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stomach Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Systole
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome
  • beta Carotene / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • beta Carotene
  • Ascorbic Acid