The effect of vitamin C on blood lipids, fibrinolytic activity and platelet adhesiveness in patients with coronary artery disease.
Forty patients with past history myocardial infarction were divided into three groups. Group I served as controls, while Groups II and III were given respectively, 1 g and 2 g vitamin C daily, divided in two doses. Samples were collected initially, and then every 2 months during the 6-month period of vitamin C administration and finally 2 months after stopping vitamin C. Vitamin C, 0.5 g twice daily (Group II), increased serum ascorbic acid by about 22% (P less than 0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in fibrinolytic activity or blood lipids. When the dose of vitamin C was doubled, serum ascorbic acid increased by about 96% and fibrinolytic activity increased by 45% (P less than 0.01), while the platelet adhesive index decreased by 27% (P less than 0.01). The serum cholesterol level dropped by 12% (P less than 0.05) and a significant decrease in serum beta lipoproteins and an increase in the alpha fraction was also seen. A further 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction were divided into two groups; one received 2 g vitamin C daily for the first 20 days and the other received a placebo. Blood samples were collected every 10th day during the 40-day follow up. Vitamin C administration increased fibrinolytic activity by 62.5%, while serum ascorbic acid rose by 94%.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D008055:Lipids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid