Vitamin C and HTN - Does It Play Any Role?

With regards vitamin c and htn, or hypertension (high blood pressure), blood plasma levels of vitamin c are low in people with hypertension. These people may be at a higher risk of having peripheral artery disease, a stroke, or a heart attack.

Vitamin c is an antioxidant, and as such protects against the damage done to cells by free-radicals. Vitamin c can prevent oxidation of low density lipoproteins, the 'bad' cholesterol that can build up in arteries as plaque once it is oxidized. Those suffering hypertension (htn) are recommended a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, excellent sources of a variety of antioxidants.

Linus Pauling "found that lysine, along with Vitamin C and other antioxidants such as Co-Q10, Vitamin E and Vitamin A not only inhibited formation of plaque but also, actually dissolved the plaque". (http://www.focus-on-nutrition.com/cholesterol.shtml)

For more information on vitamin c and htn, this site has quite a few studies mentioned.

Other recommendations for hypertension (htn) by natural therapists might include:

• liver herbs like st mary's thistle, dandelion and burdock as the liver is often sluggish
• they will look at whether possible aluminum, fluorine, lead and cadmium pollution is a factor
• dietary factors - foods like garlic, sprouts and leafy green veggies inhibit cholesterol formation
• flaxseed oil and oils rich in linoleic acid are considered beneficial
• vitamin e in moderate amounts to prevent clots
• magnesium compounds lower blood pressure
• exercise

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