A Daily Dose of Vitamin C Improves Blood Flow

A daily dose of Vitamin C is as helpful as a regular exercise routine in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease with overweight or obese patients.

A daily or regular intake of vitamin C is already known to have numerous health benefits, including improving the functioning of blood vessels and blood flow.

New research has shown that physicians looking to improve the health of overweight and obese patients should count on vitamin C as a helpful ally.

Vitamin C was found to inhibit the activity of endothelin-1. Endothelin-1 is a protein that functions as a constrictor for small blood vessels, thus leading to reduced performance of the blood flow function.

With overweight or obese patients the activity levels of the protein are elevated. So much so that it leads to almost complete constriction of the small blood vessels in some cases. This process leads to a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular complications due to faulty blood flow. Such complications are potentially deadly.

In order to prevent these cases, regular exercise is recommended. Following a strict routine has been shown to have a positive effect on reducing the activity of the endothelin-1 protein.

Against this background, researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder looked at how vitamin C could affect the activity of endothelin-1 in overweight or obese patients. The findings of the study led by Caitlin Dow, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado, will be discussed during the 14th International Conference on Endothelin: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Therapeutics.

Caitlin Dow, Ph.D. explained that:

“This is not the ‘exercise pill’. Vitamin C certainly isn’t a new cure. It’s important to know what other lifestyle changes we can offer people who can’t exercise”.

The study was conducted with the help of a small group of participants counting 35 patients that were obese or overweight.

While a regular exercise routine helps in reducing the strain on the constricted blood vessels, some patients may not be able to engage in sports activities for a number of reasons.

The 35 participants in the study were divided in two groups. The first group, counting 20 patients, received a daily dose of vitamin C of 500 mg. The second group was required to follow a regular exercise routine. Both groups followed the established requirements over a period of three months.

The research showed that after the three months, the activity levels of the endothelin-1 protein decreased considerably. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the two groups.

A daily dose of vitamin C is as helpful as a regular exercise routine on the long-run.

Photo Credits: Flickr