Vitamin C and Lowered Blood Pressure?

New research coming out of Italy suggests that there may be a role for Vitamin C in lowering blood pressure.

Dr. Rosa Maria Bruno from the University of Pisa has indicated that the work done by her group, using intravenously delivered mega-doses of Vitamin C, reduced sympathetic nervous system overactivity, and consequently blood pressure, by targeting oxidative stress.

The sympathetic nervous system is part of the body's central nervous system that controls non-voluntary activities, such as blood pressure, and over-activation of the system has been identified as an underlying foundation for the onset of elevated blood pressure and resulting organ damage. The Italian team reported its findings yesterday in Atlanta at the American Heart Association's Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

Recent research has made it appear that there is a big role for antioxidants in the cardiovascular health arena. This past January, British researchers presented evidence in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that suggested high levels of vitamin C in the blood might even help reduce stroke risk.

Because the Vitamin C in the Italian study was injected intravenously, we can't necessarily draw the conclusion that typical Vitamin C supplements will work the same way. But it is interesting to see how antioxidants like Vitamin C keep coming back through research as strong potentials for overall health. At various times, antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E have been completely written off by many in the press.

Dave