Atherosclerosis and vitamin C.
Following the chance observation that the author's serum-cholesterol could be varied between 140 and 230 mg. per 100 ml. by increasing the vitamin-C intake or by lowering it, a study was undertaken in healthy individuals and in patients with atherosclerosis. In healthy people under the age of 25, cholesterol levels tended to fall when 1 g. of vitamin C per day was added to an otherwise normal diet. In older people, no consistent pattern of serum-cholesterol change was seen, but in patients with a history of atherosclerosis, most of whom were on clofibrate and/or anticoagulants, the serum-cholesterol increased in the weeks when vitamin-C supplements increased in the weeks when vitamin-C supplements were given. It is suggested that this rise in serum-cholesterol is caused by mobilisation of the arterial cholesterol.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000925:Anticoagulants; D002784:Cholesterol; D002994:Clofibrate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid