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Effect of vitamin C on endothelial function in health and disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Lookup NU author(s): Ammar Ashor, Professor John MathersORCiD, Dr Mario Siervo

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Abstract

Background: Observational studies indicate that higher vitamin C intake is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, randomised controlled trials (RCT) examining the effect of vitamin C on endothelial function (EF) have reported inconsistent results. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to determine the effect of vitamin C supplementation on EF and to investigate whether the effect was influenced by health status, study duration, dose and route of vitamin C administration.Methods: We searched the Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases from inception to May 2013 for studies that met the following criteria: 1) RCT with adult participants, 2) vitamin C administered alone, 3) studies that quantified EF using commonly applied methods including ultrasound, plethysmography and pulse wave analysis.Results: Pooling the data from 44 clinical trials showed a significant positive effect of vitamin C on EF (SMD: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.66, P < 0.001). Stratification of the analysis by health outcome revealed improved EF in atherosclerotic (SMD: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.41, 1.26, P < 0.001), diabetic (SMD: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.82, P < 0.001) and heart failure patients (SMD: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.88, P < 0.02) after vitamin C supplementation. The effect size appeared to be unaffected by study design, duration, baseline plasma vitamin C concentration or route of administration of vitamin C. The meta-regression showed a significant positive association between vitamin C dose and improvement in EF (beta: 0.00011, 95% CI: 0.00001, 0.00021, P = 0.03).Conclusions: Vitamin C supplementation improved EF. The effect of vitamin C supplementation appeared to be dependent on health status, with stronger effects in those at higher cardiovascular disease risk. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Ashor AW, Lara J, Mathers JC, Siervo M

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Atherosclerosis

Year: 2014

Volume: 235

Issue: 1

Pages: 9-20

Print publication date: 01/07/2014

Online publication date: 18/04/2014

Acceptance date: 05/04/2014

ISSN (print): 0021-9150

ISSN (electronic): 1879-1484

Publisher: ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.04.004

DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.04.004

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