Vitamin C found to reduce blood pressure

New research suggests that boosting vitamin C levels may help to reduce blood pressuse.

Researchers studied 242 Black and White women aged 18-21 to determine whether blood levels of vitamin C influence blood pressure (BP). After taking into account race, body mass index, education, and dietary intake of fat and sodium, results showed that the systolic and diastolic BP of women with the highest levels of vitamin C in their blood was 4.66 mmHg and 6.04 mmHg lower, respectively, than in women with the lowest levels of vitamin C.  

The researchers concluded: “The findings suggest the possibility that vitamin C may influence BP in healthy young adults. Since lower BP in young adulthood may lead to lower BP and decreased incidence of age-associated vascular events in older adults, further investigation of treatment effects of vitamin C on BP regulation in young adults is warranted.”

Block G, Jensen CD, Norkus EP, Hudes M, Crawford PB.Vitamin C in plasma is inversely related to blood pressure and change in blood pressure during the previous year in young Black and White women. Nutrition Journal. 2008;7:35. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-35