Associations of vitamin C status, fruit and vegetable intakes, and markers of inflammation and hemostasis.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that a high dietary intake and high circulating concentrations of vitamin C may protect against ischemic heart disease.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to examine the associations between dietary and plasma vitamin C concentrations, fruit and vegetable intakes, and markers of inflammation and hemostasis associated with cardiovascular disease in older men free of cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study examined 3258 men aged 60-79 y with no physician diagnosis of myocardial infarction, stroke, or diabetes and who were drawn from general practices in 24 British towns. Fruit and vegetable intakes and dietary vitamin C were assessed by using a food-frequency questionnaire.


RESULTS
Plasma vitamin C, fruit intake, and dietary vitamin C intake were significantly and inversely associated with mean concentrations of C-reactive protein, an acute phase reactant, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, even after adjustment for confounders. Vegetable intake was correlated significantly (inversely) only with t-PA. For plasma vitamin C (highest versus lowest quartile), the adjusted odds of elevated C-reactive protein and t-PA (highest tertile versus lowest tertile) were 0.56 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.71) and 0.79 (0.62, 1.00); for fruit intake, the corresponding odds ratios were 0.76 (0.60, 0.95) and 0.76 (0.61, 0.95). Plasma (but not dietary) vitamin C also showed inverse associations with both fibrinogen concentrations and blood viscosity. No associations were seen with von Willebrand factor or factor VIII.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that vitamin C has antiinflammatory effects and is associated with lower endothelial dysfunction in men with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Wannamethee
S Goya
SG
Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom. goya@pcps.ucl.ac.uk
Lowe
Gordon D O
GD
Rumley
Ann
A
Bruckdorfer
K Richard
KR
Whincup
Peter H
PH
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005638:Fruit; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood; D006113:United Kingdom; D014675:Vegetables; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D001205:Ascorbic Acid