Effect of ascorbic acid on endothelial dysfunction of epicardial coronary arteries in chronic smokers assessed by cold pressor testing

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Background: In chronic smokers there is evidence for increased formation of oxygen-derived free radicals within the vessel wall impairing endothelial function. It has been suggested that the inactivation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide by oxygen free radicals contributes to endothelial dysfunction. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that in chronic smokers the antioxidant ascorbic acid could…

Vitamin C Deficiency-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary We report a case of a man in his 60s who developed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in association with profound vitamin C deficiency. Decreased availability of endothelial nitric oxide and activation of the hypoxia-inducible family of transcription factors, both consequences of vitamin C deficiency, are believed to be mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of…

Beneficial metabolic effects of Vitamin D on arterial wall cells in vitro

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary In recent years, many studies have shown positive effects of vitamin D on health, including various benefits to inflammation and immune response, cognitive function, protection against metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D deficiency has been closely related to the development of coronary heart disease and its mortality.Vitamin D involvement in mitigating the pathogenesis…

Vitamin C supplementation improves blood pressure and oxidative stress after acute exercise in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary This study aimed to assess the effect of Vitamin C on blood pressure (BP), and subsequently on oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) release, following the low-intensity exercise in the patients. This study included 24 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) (age, 53 ± 7 years; hemoglobin A1c, 10.1% ± 0.9%) randomized into…

Effects of Various Multi-Nutrient Supplements on the Production and Extracellular Deposition of Collagen I and IV by Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Chronic vitamin deficiency is an underlying cause of many modern human chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). A major pathological mechanism leading to the development of CVD is loss of vascular-wall integrity, a structural weakness that triggers the atherosclerotic process. The arterial wall is composed of the constituent cells and surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM).…

Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Background: In observational studies, increased vitamin C intake, vitamin C supplementation, and higher blood concentrations of vitamin C are associated with lower blood pressure (BP). However, evidence for blood pressure-lowering effects of vitamin C in clinical trials is inconsistent. Objective: The objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that…

Fat Soluble vitamins affect composition of extracellular matrix deposited by human aortic smooth muscle and endothelial cells in vitro

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Vascular calcification is a pathophysiological process that is associated with coronary atherosclerosis, and is a prognostic marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The process of arterial wall calcification is triggered and accompanied by pro-osteogenic phenotypical modifications of resident smooth muscle cells (SMC). Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient required to support the…

Ascorbic acid decreases the binding affinity of the AT1 receptor for angiotensin II

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Background: Ascorbic acid is an essential vitamin and a powerful antioxidant. Many studies have highlighted the benefits of ascorbic acid for chronic cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension in which angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an significant role. We therefore hypothesized that ascorbic acid could modify the pharmacological properties of the AT(1) receptor for Ang…

Decrease in oxidative stress through supplementation of vitamins C and E is associated with a reduction in blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Plant-derived bioflavonoids have been recognized to support arterial wall structural integrity and interfere with a variety of pro-atherosclerotic stimuli. This study examined the effect of various bioflavonoids on angiotensin II-stimulated contraction by human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) embedded in a three-dimensional collagen matrix. Bioflavonoid inhibition of SMC contraction was found to be dependent…

Vitamin C Lowers Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Targeting Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme I Production in a Frequency-Dependent Manner

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary The lowering blood pressure effect of vitamin C (VC) has been evaluated in various models. As VC has a fast degradation rate in the body after consumption, a study of the frequency-dependent manner of VC is essential for the sustained antihypertension effect of VC. In this study, we investigated the frequency and dose dependency…

Ascorbic acid supplementation improves postprandial glycaemic control and blood pressure in individuals with type 2 diabetes: Findings of a randomized cross-over trial

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Aim: The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation improves postprandial glucose responses under free-living conditions in individuals with type 2 diabetes. A secondary aim was to investigate the effect of AA supplementation on blood pressure. Materials and methods: A total of 31 individuals with type 2 diabetes…

Ascorbate Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Increased Blood Pressure Induced by 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) Amino-1,4-naphthoquinone in Rats

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Quinone derivatives like 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) amino-1,4-naphthoquinone (Q7) are used as antitumor agents usually associated with adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of ascorbate on Q7-induced cardiovascular response in Wistar rats. In this study, blood pressure, vascular reactivity, and intracellular calcium fluxes were evaluated in…

High-Dose Vitamin C Prevents Secondary Brain Damage After Stroke via Epigenetic Reprogramming of Neuroprotective Genes

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Vitamin C has recently been identified as an epigenetic regulator by activating ten-eleven translocases (TETs), enzymes involved in generating DNA hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Currently, we investigated whether high-dose vitamin C promotes neuroprotection through epigenetic modulation of 5hmC, if there are sex-specific differences in outcome, and the therapeutic potential of vitamin C in stroke-related comorbidities in…

Serum vitamin C concentration was inversely associated with subsequent 20-year incidence of stroke in a Japanese rural community. The Shibata study

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Background and purpose: Epidemiological evidence suggests that vitamin C may decrease the risk of stroke. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of serum vitamin C concentration with the subsequent incidence of stroke. Methods: In a Japanese rural community, a cohort of 880 men and 1241 women aged 40 years…

Vitamin C improves endothelial function of epicardial coronary arteries in patients with hypercholesterolaemia or essential hypertension–assessed by cold pressor testing

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Aims: There is evidence that formation of free radicals increases in patients with hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia, which may contribute to endothelial dysfunction of epicardial coronary arteries due to inactivation of the vasodilator NO. The present study was designed to test whether the abnormal constriction of epicardial coronary arteries due to sympathetic stimulation by the…

Effects of vitamin C supplementation on essential hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Background: Vitamin C as a supplement to treat hypertension has been proposed. However, it remains controversial whether vitamin C can improve blood pressure in patients with primary hypertension. Objectives: To analyze the effect of vitamin C (VitC) supplementation on systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Methods: We searched…

Effect of acute administration of vitamin C on muscle sympathetic activity, cardiac sympathovagal balance, and baroreflex sensitivity in hypertensive patients

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Background: Essential hypertension is characterized by both increased oxidative stress and sympathetic traffic. Experimental studies have shown that reactive oxygen species can modulate autonomic activity. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether acute administration of the antioxidant vitamin C modifies sympathetic nerve activity in essential hypertension. Design: Thirty-two untreated patients with…

Authors’ perspective: What is the optimum intake of vitamin C in humans?

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C has traditionally been based on the prevention of the vitamin C deficiency disease, scurvy. While higher intakes of vitamin C may exert additional health benefits, the limited Phase III randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin C supplementation have not found consistent benefit with respect to chronic…

Bioflavonoids Effectively Inhibit Smooth Muscle Cell-Mediated Contraction of Collagen Matrix Induced by Angiotensin II

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Introduction: Plant-derived bioflavonoids have been recognized to support arterial wall structural integrity and interfere with a variety of pro-atherosclerotic stimuli. In this study we tested the effects of bioflavonoids on the contractile activity of cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) embedded in a three-dimensional type I collagen matrix. Methods: Collagen I solution mixed…

Mixture Of Natural Nutrients Reduces Collagen Matrix Contraction Driven By Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Impaired arterial smooth muscle contractility plays a leading role in the development of systemic hypertension. Structural changes, such as occlusive atherosclerotic plaque formation, and functional changes, such as hormonal disturbances, play roles in pathophysiological mechanisms of altered arterial contractility. Accelerated gel contraction was accompanied by elevated secretion of MMPs into cell culture media. We…

High-dose vitamin B1 supplementation essential in patients with chronic heart failure

Heart failure (cardiomyopathy)

Summary Conventional heart failure drugs lead to increased excretion of vitamin B1 (thiamine), thereby inducing thiamine deficiency and further compromising heart function. Scientists at the university hospital of Bern, Switzerland, evaluated the effect of high-dose thiamine supplementation in heart failure patients. Patients with impaired heart pumping who took conventional drugs for chronic heart failure received…

Vitamin B1 beneficially impacts blood pressure in people with high glucose levels

Diabetes type 2

Summary Researchers from the School of Public Health at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, assessed the effects of high-dose vitamin B1 (thiamine) supplementation on blood pressure and lipid and inflammation parameters in people with impaired glucose metabolism. 12 participants with high blood glucose levels received both a placebo and thiamine capsules (3 x 100 mg/day)…

Taurine lowers blood pressure and improves vascular function in patients with high blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary This study, executed by Chinese research departments, investigated the effects of the amino acid taurine on high blood pressure and vascular function in patients with early-stage high blood pressure. 120 individuals received either a taurine supplement or a placebo for 12 weeks. Taurine supplementation showed, among others, a significant decrease in blood pressure levels…

Combination of specific nutrients can significantly modify early stage high blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary In this Italian study, 36 individuals with early-stage high blood pressure received a mixture containing several vitamins and magnesium or a placebo for 16 weeks. The results showed significantly reduced blood pressure levels in patients in the supplementation group compared to patients in the placebo group. This study demonstrated that specific nutrients can reduce…

Taurine and magnesium enhance function of cells involved in repairing vascular cells

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary This Japanese study aimed to evaluate the effects of magnesium and taurine supplementation on oxidative stress and the function of specific cells involved in cellular repair processes. Healthy men and rats received taurine, magnesium, or placebo for 2 respectively 4 weeks during this study. The study showed that magnesium and taurine supplementation increased the…

Omega-3 fatty acids improve vascular condition in patients with increased risk for severe cardiovascular diseases

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary According to this Australian study, omega-3 fatty acids improve the vascular condition, including the aorta, by decreasing vascular inflammation and preventing the risk of heart attacks due to their anti-inflammatory properties. The study, which involved participants with a high risk for severe cardiovascular diseases, evaluated the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on vascular condition…

Oral magnesium supplementation shows benefits in patients with irregular heartbeat

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Low magnesium levels may increase the risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). A trial, conducted by two American universities, therefore aimed to assess the effect of oral magnesium (400 mg magnesium oxide daily) on atrial fibrillation, an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm. A total of 59 participants received either 400 mg/day magnesium orally…

Omega-3 fatty acids beneficially affect vascular function in patients with arterial disease

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary This trial investigated the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on vascular function and inflammation levels in patients with arterial diseases, which influence the risk of cardiovascular events. 70 patients received 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids or a placebo daily for 3 months. After treatment with omega-3 fatty acids, a significant improvement was observed…

Vitamin D supplementation supports recovery of coronary artery disease patients

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Scientific evidence shows that a deficiency of different micronutrients, including vitamin D, is associated with coronary artery disease, which occurs when the heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. Therefore, this Chinese study researched the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the severity of…

Vitamin B supplementation as an effective and safe treatment for coronary artery disease patients

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary The present study was conducted by Chinese and Swedish research institutes and evaluated whether B vitamins improve various factors related to coronary artery disease. The participants received either a supplement containing B vitamins or a placebo for 12 weeks. Blood tests were performed before supplementation and at the end of the study. The study…

Zinc protects against coronary artery disease

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Researchers from the University of Kathmandu, Nepal, investigated the causal effects of several micronutrients, including zinc, on coronary artery disease. Dietary intakes of 466 male participants were evaluated with a specific questionnaire. Several analyses were performed to determine the relationship between coronary artery disease and the intake of micronutrients. This study showed that zinc…

Coenzyme Q10 beneficially affects heart failure complaints

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary This review summarizes literature and studies regarding coenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with heart failure. For example, a clinical trial demonstrated a reduced number of major adverse cardiovascular events after coenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with heart failure. Generally, coenzyme Q10 may represent a safe therapeutic option for these patients. For more details, please…

L-carnitine reduces inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Inflammation plays a critical role in coronary artery disease. In the present study, Taiwanese research departments, therefore, investigated whether L-carnitine supplementation is able to reduce inflammation in patients with this disease. 23 (out of 47) participants were assigned to a test group that received an L-Carnitine supplement (1000 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The other…

Coenzyme Q10 improves function of heart tissue

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Endothelial dysfunction, the impaired functioning of the lining of blood vessels, is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure. Japanese scientists, therefore, aimed to investigate whether coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) can improve the function of heart tissue (endothelium) in patients with chronic heart failure. 14 patients received either 400 mg coenzyme…

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation benefits elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Research departments from Italy and South Africa evaluated the effects of ubiquinol (coenzyme Q10) in elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. 50 patients received either 400 mg/day ubiquinol (25 patients) or a placebo (25 patients) from 7 days before to 5 days after surgery. Among others, coenzyme Q10 levels and inflammation parameters were assessed,…

L-carnitine supplementation beneficially affects blood lipids in patients with coronary artery disease

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary This Taiwanese study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering effects of L-carnitine supplementation in coronary artery disease patients. During this study, 47 patients were divided into a group receiving 1000 mg/day L-carnitine orally (23 patients) and a group receiving a placebo (24 patients) for 12 weeks. L-carnitine levels and various lipids, including cholesterol, HDL, and…

Long-term vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation improve risk factors for type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart disease

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary According to this study by Iranian and Canadian researchers, co-supplementation with vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids improves several factors increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients. The study was executed with 61 vitamin D-deficient diabetic patients with coronary heart disease. The participants were allocated to either a group receiving…

Arginine beneficially affects heart function

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary This review, conducted by several research departments from New York, USA, and Naples, Italy, focuses on the functional role of arginine, an amino acid involved in various critical biological processes in, for instance, heart and vascular tissue. Additionally, this review analyzes the beneficial effects of arginine supplementation in cardiovascular disorders, especially in preventing high…

L-carnitine improves cardiac function in hemodialysis patients

Other cardiovascular diseases

Summary This Japanese trial investigated the effect of L-carnitine supplementation in patients undergoing hemodialysis, a treatment to filter wastes and water from the patients’ blood. The study participants were divided into a therapy group, administered with an oral L-carnitine supplement (20 mg/kg/day) for 12 months, and a control group (no L-carnitine therapy during the test…

L-Carnitine improves efficacy of conventional heart failure therapy in children

Heart failure (cardiomyopathy)

Summary This study investigated the effect of L-carnitine supplementation in children with dilated cardiomyopathy, a severe cardiovascular disease manifesting in chronic heart failure. 29 children were involved in this study. Children in the experimental group were administered 50-100 mg/kg/day oral L-carnitine (19 children) in addition to conventional treatment. Heart function was determined after 1, 3,…

L-carnitine and cardiovascular disease

Other cardiovascular diseases

Summary This Chinese review summarizes the effects and working mechanism of L-carnitine in cardiovascular diseases. L-carnitine beneficially affects the energy household of the heart and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, carnitine has been shown to reduce high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions considered risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. The favorable…

L-arginine improves heart functions and quality of life in patients with heart failure

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary This Iranian study aimed to investigate the effect of l-arginine supplementation on various heart functions and the quality of life in 50 patients with heart failure. During 10 weeks, the patients received either a supplement containing 3 g l-arginine per day or a placebo. Heart function, blood pressure, and quality of life were assessed…

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in chronic hemodialysis patients

Other cardiovascular diseases

Summary Researchers from different American research institutes investigated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in chronic hemodialysis patients. To this end, 20 patients were administered various doses of coenzyme Q10. Before and after supplementation, the researchers measured several markers for oxidative stress, which is usually increased in this group of patients, and coenzyme…

Coenzyme Q10 influences markers of oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients

Other cardiovascular diseases

Summary According to a study conducted by several research departments from the University of Washington, Seattle, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center of Nashville, USA, coenzyme Q10 beneficially affects highly prevalent oxidative stress markers in hemodialysis patients with end-stage kidney disease. This study aimed to identify a therapy that reduces oxidative stress levels and improves…

Magnesium prevents high blood pressure in old age

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Summary Magnesium deficiency can result in multiple symptoms and is frequently observed in older people. This review investigated the beneficial effects of magnesium to prevent high blood pressure in this age group. The analyzed studies found clear evidence that there is a close relationship between magnesium deficiency and high blood pressure, which supports previous findings…

L-carnitine prevents atrial fibrillation after coronary bypass surgery

Heart attack and coronary artery disease

Summary Iranian researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine administration on atrial fibrillation, a common complication in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Additionally, an inflammation marker (CRP) and the incidence of kidney injury after surgery were assessed. 134 patients were involved and assigned to a supplementation group, receiving 3000 mg of L-carnitine per day,…