Vitamin C Shows New Health Benefits
High intakes of vitamin C may protect against blood pressure increases in young women,according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, report that a one mg per deciliter increase in blood vitamin C levels was linked to a 4 mm Hg decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressures in young women with normal blood pressure.
According to the study’s authors:
[V]itamin C may be an important factor in blood pressure regulation even among healthy young adults, and that further study is warranted.
The researchers recruited 242 women aged between 18 and 21, two-thirds of whom were African-American, while the other third was Caucasian. The women were followed over a 10-year period and it was found that blood vitamin C levels were inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
The researchers theorize that vitamin C may affect nitric oxide levels, a vasodilator that opens up blood vessels.
In a separate study, vitamin C was found to help nerve cells in the eye to function properly and that the vitamin may be important for brain function too.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) say that retinal cells “need to be bathed” in relatively high doses of vitamin C for correct functioning. “Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there’s likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before.”
According to the OHSU scientists, the benefits revolve around special receptors in the retina and brain called GABA-type receptors, which modulate the rapid communication between brain cells. This may be why vitamin C stores in the brain are known to be the last to be depleted in times of vitamin C deprivation. A common symptom of scurvy is depression and the findings may tie into this. The researchers speculate that a diet rich in vitamin C could have a neuroprotective effect on the retina.
These studies emphasize the importance of having enough vitamin C in the diet to support normal vision and blood pressure. Because vitamin C is not made by our bodies, it is an essential nutrient that must be consumed in our diet or provided by supplementation. If your diet does not include plentiful amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, supplementing with vitamin C will help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, provide antioxidant protection and support the immune system.
Dr. Mark Lange, Ph.D., is the Science Director for the Institute for Nutraceutical Advancement and has more than 15 years experience in the nutraceutical, health care and pharmaceutical research and management. Dr. Lange has earned a national reputation in the nutraceutical field for Quality Control policies and analytical testing methods and standards.
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