title: Impact of oral vitamin C on histamine levels and seasickness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seasickness is a risk aboard a ship. Histamine is postulated as a causative agent, inversely related to the intake of vitamin C. Persons with mastocytosis experienced improvement of nausea after the intake of vitamin C.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether vitamin C suppresses nausea in 70 volunteers who spent 20 minutes in a life raft, exposed to one-meter-high waves in an indoor pool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study. Two grams of vitamin C or placebo was taken one hour before exposure. Blood samples were taken one hour before and after exposure to determine histamine, diamine oxidase, tryptase, and vitamin C levels. Symptom scores were noted on a visual analog scale. On the second day the test persons were asked which day they had felt better.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven persons without symptoms were excluded from the analysis. Test persons had less severe symptoms after the intake of vitamin C (p < 0.01). Scores on the visual analog scale were in favor of vitamin C, but the difference was not significant. Twenty-three of 63 persons wished to leave the raft earlier: 17 after the intake of placebo and 6 after the intake of vitamin C (p < 0.03). Women (p < 0.02) and men below 27 years of age (p < 0.02) had less pronounced symptoms after the intake of vitamin C. Histamine (p < 0.01) and DAO levels were increased after the intake of vitamin C (p < 0.001) and after placebo (n.s.). The fact that the second test day was rated less stressful by most volunteers is indicative of habituation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some of the data show that vitamin C is effective in suppressing symptoms of seasickness, particularly in women and men younger than 27 years of age, and is devoid of side effects. Histamine levels were initially increased after the test persons had been exposed to waves.
authors.affiliation: FAZ Floridsdorf Allergy Center, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jarisch
authors.affiliation: German Naval Medical Institute, Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weyer
authors.affiliation: German Naval Medical Institute, Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ehlert
authors.affiliation: Havariekommando (Central Command for Maritime Emergencies), Cuxhaven, Germany.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Ship's doctor, anesthesist in a private practice, Pohlheim, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinkowski
authors.affiliation: FAZ Floridsdorf Allergy Center, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: German Naval Medical Institute, Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kähler
authors.affiliation: Sanitätsamt der Bundeswehr (Medical Office of the German Armed Forces), Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girgensohn
authors.affiliation: German Naval Medical Institute, Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weisser
authors.affiliation: German Naval Medical Institute, Kronshagen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D006632:Histamine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: German Navy; Seasickness; diamine oxidase; histamine; vitamin C