Oral vitamin C and endothelial function in smokers: short-term improvement, but no sustained beneficial effect.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that antioxidant therapy would improve endothelial function in smokers.


BACKGROUND
Several studies have documented a beneficial effect of short-term oral or parenteral vitamin C on endothelial physiology in subjects with early arterial dysfunction. Possible long-term effects of vitamin C on endothelial function, however, are not known.


METHODS
We studied the effects of short- and long-term oral vitamin C therapy on endothelial function in 20 healthy young adult smokers (age 36 +/- 6 years, 8 male subjects, 21 +/- 10 pack-years). Each subject was studied at baseline, 2 h after a single dose of 2 g vitamin C and 8 weeks after taking 1 g vitamin C daily, and after placebo, in a randomized double-blind crossover study. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma ascorbate levels and endothelial function was measured as flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, using high resolution ultrasound. Nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (endothelium-independent) was also measured at each visit.


RESULTS
At baseline, plasma ascorbate level was low in the smokers (42 +/- 21 micromol/liter; normal range, 50 to 150 micromol/liter), increased with vitamin C therapy after 2 h to 120 +/- 54 micromol/liter (p < 0.001) and remained elevated after eight weeks of supplementation at 92 +/- 32 micromol/liter (p < 0.001, compared with placebo). Flow-mediated dilation, however, increased at 2 h (from 2.8 +/- 2.0% to 6.3 +/- 2.8%, p < 0.001), but there was no sustained beneficial effect after eight weeks (3.9 +/- 3.2%, p = 0.26). Nitroglycerin-mediated dilation was unchanged throughout.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral vitamin C therapy improves endothelial dysfunction in the short term in healthy young smokers, but it has no beneficial long-term effect, despite sustained elevation of plasma ascorbate levels.
Raitakari
O T
OT
Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Adams
M R
MR
McCredie
R J
RJ
Griffiths
K A
KA
Stocker
R
R
Celermajer
D S
DS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
D000975:Antioxidants; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid