Low serum vitamin C levels associated with 2.1 times greater risk of stroke in men

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Tuesday, January 31, 2017 3:15 pm Email this article

The one-fourth of men with the lowest plasma vitamin C levels were 2.1 times more likely to have a stroke during a 10.4 year follow-up compared to the one-fourth of men with the highest vitamin C levels according to a study from Finland which followed 2419 middle-aged men, 42- to 60-years-old, with no history of stroke at baseline.

This was after adjusting for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking, alcohol consumption, serum total cholesterol, diabetes, and exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

Low vitamin C in hypertensive men and overweight men and risk of stroke: 2.4X greater risk and 2.7X greater risk

Comparing the one-fourth of men with the lowest serum vitamin C levels versus the one-fourth with the highest levels, the risk of stroke was 2.4 times higher in hypertensive men and 2.7 times higher in overweight men.

Conclusion

“Low plasma vitamin C was associated with increased risk of stroke, especially among hypertensive and overweight men,” the authors of the study concluded.

Reference

Kurl S, Tuomainen TP, Laukkanen JA, Nyyssonen K, Lakka T, Sivenius J, and Salonen JT. Plasma vitamin C modifies the association between hypertension and risk of stroke. Stroke, 2002 Jun; 33(6): 1568-1573.

Author’s Contact Info

Jari A. Laukkanen, MD, PhD
Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition
University of Eastern Finland
PO Box 1627
FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Stroke, ischemic

• Vitamin C