16 November 2011
Low vitamin C levels may increase the risk of complications in patients with heart failure, says a new Korean study.
In the observational study, the relationship between vitamin C intake and blood concentrations of the high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP) – a marker for inflammation and increased risk of cardiovascular disease – was examined in 212 heart failure patients using a four-day food diary and bloods tests (1). The participants were divided into two groups (one with levels over 3 mg/L of hsCRP, and another with lower levels) and followed for one year to determine the length of time to their first visit to the emergency department due to cardiac problems or death. The study results showed that 39% of the patients had inadequate vitamin C intakes. Low vitamin C intake was associated with a higher level of hsCRP and shorter intervals without major cardiac issues or death. Participants with low vitamin C intake and hsCRP over
3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) were nearly twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease within one year.
The researchers concluded that an adequate intake of vitamin C is associated with lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, which seems to be linked to longer cardiac-event-free survival in patients. Randomized controlled trials and longitudinal prospective studies would be needed to determine the impact of other micronutrients on the survival or rehospitalization of heart failure patients.
Elevated concentrations of the protein hsCRP have been linked to a heightened state of inflammation in the body. Inflammation (swelling) of the arteries is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, heart attack, sudden death, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. The Physicians Health Study, a clinical trial involving 18,000 apparently healthy physicians, was the first large study to show that elevated levels of CRP were associated with a threefold increase in the risk of heart attack (2).
15 August 2014
While human milk is the preferred source of most nutrients for infants during the first year, there has been concern about the adequacy of human milk in providing vitamin D.
7 November 2018
World Prematurity Day is observed in November each year to raise awareness of preterm birth worldwide, and it presents an opportunity to discuss risk factors of preterm birth, as well as the role omega-3s and omega-6s have in reducing the risk of preterm birth, according to leading science.
8 September 2015
A new study reports a low plasma vitamin E concentration in the first trimester of pregnancy may elevate the risk of early pregnancy loss.
