Positive Health Online

Abstract

TERAMOTO and co-workers, TOP Department of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba City, Japan, have investigated the effect of vitamin C on coronary blood circulation in young healthy smokers.

Background

Recent studies suggest that in smokers the blood circulation in the heart muscle is reduced because of the increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the antioxidant vitamin C can restore the impaired coronary circulation.

Methodology

13 healthy young male smokers and 12 nonsmokers were studied. Coronary flow velocities in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were recorded at rest and during hyperaemia induced with intravenous infusion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Coronary flow velocity reserve (calculated as the ratio of hyperaemic to basal mean diastolic flow velocity) and plasma concentrations of vitamin C were assessed at baseline and 2 and 4 hours after oral intake of 2 grams of vitamin C.

Results

Heart rate and blood pressure responses to ATP infusion were not affected by oral vitamin C, but plasma concentrations of vitamin C increased to physiological levels in both groups. Coronary flow velocity reserve was significantly higher in nonsmokers than in smokers at baseline (p < 0.05). After oral vitamin C, it was increased significantly in smokers (p < 0.05), but not in nonsmokers.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that vitamin C restores coronary microcirculatory function in smokers.

References

Teramoto K, Daimon M, Hasegawa R, Toyoda T, Sekine T, Kawata T, Yoshida K, Komuro I. Acute effect of oral vitamin C on coronary circulation in young healthy smokers. American Heart Journal 148 (2): 300-305, Aug 2004.