title: Effects of vitamin C on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure.
abstract: Diet has been linked to cardiovascular disease risk by its influence on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and blood pressure (BP). Recent evidence suggests that vitamin C may play a role in regulation of cholesterol and BP. The cross-sectional relationships of plasma ascorbic acid (PAA) with cholesterol and BP are described in three Boston area samples: 1) 249 males and 447 females (aged 60-100 years), 2) 100 Chinese-American males and 159 Chinese-American females (aged 60-96 years), and 3) 225 male and 192 female participants (aged 20-60 years) in a randomized field trial of vitamin C supplementation. Results indicate 3.7-9.5% higher levels of HDL-C, 4.1% lower levels of LDL-C, and 1.9-5.5% lower levels of BP with each 30 mumol/L increment in PAA. These relationships may be stronger at lower levels of PAA.
authors.affiliation: USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Jacques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D001205:Ascorbic Acid