title: Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis.
abstract: Renewed interest in the antihistamine action of ascorbic acid has emerged with the recently recognized immunosuppressive role of histamine. We examined the antihistamine effect of acute and chronic vitamin C (VC) administration and its effect on neutrophil chemotaxis in healthy men and women. In the chronic study, 10 subjects ingested a placebo during weeks 1, 2, 5 and 6, and 2 g/day of VC during weeks 3 and 4. Fasting blood samples were collected after the initial 2-week period (baseline) and at the end of weeks 4 and 6. Plasma ascorbate rose significantly following VC administration compared to baseline and withdrawal values. Neutrophil chemotaxis rose 19% (NS) during VC administration, and fell 30% after VC withdrawal, but these changes were not correlated to plasma ascorbate levels (r = 0.01). Chemotaxis was inversely correlated to blood histamine (r = -0.32, p = 0.045), and, compared to baseline and withdrawal values, histamine levels were depressed 38% following VC supplementation. Blood histamine and neutrophil chemotaxis did not change 4 hours following a single 2 g dose of ascorbic acid, although plasma ascorbate rose 150%. These data indicate that VC may indirectly enhance chemotaxis by detoxifying histamine in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Resources and Human Development, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D006632:Histamine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid