title: Effects of vitamin C and aspirin in ischemic stroke-related lipid peroxidation: results of the AVASAS (Aspirin Versus Ascorbic acid plus Aspirin in Stroke) Study.
abstract: A condition of oxidative stress is known to occur in ischemic stroke, the current therapeutic intervention of which is largely limited to thrombolysis. To assess the effect of vitamin C - in conjunction to aspirin - in ischemic stroke-related lipid peroxidation, we measured plasma levels of ascorbate, of 8,12-isoprostanes F2alpha-VI (8,12-iPF2alpha-VI) and activities and levels of a broad spectrum of antioxidant enzymes and micronutrients in stroke patients randomized to receive, from stroke onset and up to three months, either vitamin C (200 mg/day) plus aspirin (300 mg/day) or only aspirin (300 mg/day). By the end of the first week, patients treated with vitamin C plus aspirin had higher vitamin C levels (p = 0.02) and lower 8,12-iPF2alpha-VI levels (p = 0.01) than patients treated with aspirin alone. The significance was maintained for the increase of vitamin C after three months of therapy (p < 0.01). The clinical functional outcome for both groups of patients similarly ameliorated after three months of treatment. We conclude that vitamin C, at the dose of 200 mg/day and in conjunction with aspirin, significantly decreases ischemic stroke-related lipid peroxidation in humans. Further studies are warranted to clarify whether the use of vitamin C may add clinical long-term beneficial effects in patients with stroke.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Polidori
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Praticó
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ingegni
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spazzafumo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Sindaco
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cecchetti
authors.forename: Yuemang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sies
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Senin
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mecocci
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C115626:8,12-iso-isoprostane F2alpha-VI; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D014527:Uric Acid; D002338:Carotenoids; D015237:Dinoprost; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D001241:Aspirin