Vitamin C and Blood Pressure in Young Women
Author Information
Author(s): Gladys Block, Christopher D. Jensen, Edward P. Norkus, Mark Hudes, Patricia B. Crawford
Primary Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Hypothesis
Plasma ascorbic acid concentration at the 10th annual follow-up visit would be inversely associated with blood pressure.
Conclusion
Plasma ascorbic acid was found to be inversely associated with blood pressure and change in blood pressure during the prior year.
Supporting Evidence
- Higher plasma ascorbic acid levels were associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
- Participants in the highest quartile of plasma ascorbic acid had significantly lower blood pressure compared to those in the lowest quartile.
- The study suggests that vitamin C may influence blood pressure regulation in healthy young adults.
Takeaway
This study found that higher levels of vitamin C in the blood are linked to lower blood pressure in young women.
Methodology
The study involved 242 Black and White women aged 18–21 years, measuring plasma ascorbic acid and blood pressure at the 10th annual follow-up of a longitudinal study.
Potential Biases
Dietary variables may be correlated with lifestyle variables, potentially confounding the results.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, so causality cannot be inferred.
Participant Demographics
Participants were young-adult women aged 18–21, consisting of 155 Blacks and 87 Whites.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.005
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.10 to 8.22 mmHg for systolic BP; 95% CI 2.70 to 9.38 mmHg for diastolic BP
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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