title: Cardiovascular effects of oral Supplementation of vitamin C, E and folic acid in young healthy males.
abstract: Numerous observational studies showed associations of antioxidants (vitamins C and E) and folate intake with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but randomized controlled clinical trials have generally not supported this hypothesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a daily dosage of 1000 mg vitamin C, 800 mg vitamin E, and 10 mg folate on markers of vascular function in 31 young healthy male adults. Cardiovascular values after a 12-week vitamin (14 subjects) or placebo (17 subjects) intervention were compared to baseline values. Cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output, vascular resistance, arterial compliance) were measured continuously after an overnight fast under controlled circumstances with a Finometer device. Our main finding was a significant decrease (p = 0.03) in systolic blood pressure in the experimental group. No statistically significant changes were observed within other cardiovascular variables of the experimental group, but possible beneficial decreases in diastolic blood pressure and increases in arterial compliance after 12 weeks of vitamin supplementation were indicated. In conclusion, beneficial effects of antioxidants and folate were observed probably because the supplementation was used by young healthy subjects under carefully controlled conditions.
authors.affiliation: School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), South Africa. flgaes@puk.ac.za
authors.forename: Aletta E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.forename: Hugo W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.forename: Welma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.forename: Johannnes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Rooyen
authors.forename: Johann C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jerling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D012907:Smoking; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid; D001205:Ascorbic Acid