Vitamin C as Effective as Exercise for Cardiovascular Health

08 Sep 2015 --- Overweight and obese adults are advised to exercise to improve their health, but more than 50 percent do not do so. New research to be presented at the 14th International Conference on Endothelin: Physiology, Pathophysiology and Therapeutics suggests that taking vitamin C supplements daily can have similar cardiovascular benefits as regular exercise in these adults.

The blood vessels of overweight and obese adults have elevated activity of the small vessel-constricting protein endothelin (ET)-1. Because of the high ET-1 activity, these vessels are more prone to constricting, becoming less responsive to blood flow demand and increasing risk of developing vascular disease. Exercise has been shown to reduce ET-1 activity, but incorporating an exercise regimen into a daily routine can be challenging.

This study, conducted at the University of Colorado, Boulder, examined whether vitamin C supplements, which have been reported to improve vessel function, can also lower ET-1 activity. The researchers found that daily supplementation of vitamin C (500 mg/day, time-released) reduced ET-1-related vessel constriction as much as walking for exercise did. Vitamin C supplementation represents an effective lifestyle strategy for reducing ET-1-mediated vessel constriction in overweight and obese adults, the researchers wrote.

Vitamin C has been shown to be cardioprotective since research in 2002, when researchers found it was effective in reversing the development of atherosclerosis. Since then, much research has been carried out on the nutrient looking also at its anti-inflammatory properties and its effects on the elasticity of vessel walls.

Part of the development of atherosclerosis involves a thickening and hardening of artery walls and vitamin C has the ability to increase flexibility and reduce inflammation due to its antioxidant properties. It has also been shown to reduce cellular damage which may lead to the development of cancers. This new research shows it has yet another string to its bow and is a welcome development for people who cannot exercise as much as advised.