Vitamin C To Prevent Heart Attack
People with heart failure who don’t get enough vitamin C in their diet are almost twice as likely to suffer heart failure, compared to those who get enough vitamin C intake.
People with low vitamin C intake also have more than twice the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood. Where CRP levels have been linked to heart disease.
“The study is the first study to show that people with heart failure with adequate intake of vitamin C in their diet will live longer. Vitamin C, an antioxidant that can help people with heart failure by alleviating inflammatory conditions in the body,” said researcher Grace Song, PhD, RN, assistant professor from the nursing department, University of Ulsan, South Korea as reported by WebMD on Wednesday (11/16/2011).
Other researchers say it is not at all clear that vitamin C by itself can improve heart health. People who get enough vitamin C in their daily diet by eating lots of fruits and vegetables can be overall healthy.
“All we have known is that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of heart disease,” said Alice Lichtenstein, DSC, a nutritionist at Tufts University, Boston.
Foods rich in vitamin C include melons, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, oranges, papaya and kiwi. Based on the findings, people with heart failure don’t have to take vitamin C supplements.
“Research has shown that, vitamin C supplements do not improve the health of people with heart failure,” Lichtenstein said. The results of the study were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in 2011.
The study involved 212 people with heart failure. Their average age is 61 years, and about one third are women. The researchers continued to track all the food they ate for 4 days.
The study used a software program used to calculate vitamin C intake. 39 percent did not get enough vitamin C in their diet, according to criteria set by the Institute of Medicine.
The study participants were also given a blood test to measure CRP. Then participants were monitored for 1 year, during which time 61 patients, or 29 percent were hospitalized or died of heart disease.
Participants with lower vitamin C intake were more likely to have a shorter time to be hospitalized before death due to heart problems.
The research was funded by the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Nursing Research. The research was indeed presented at a medical conference.
However, initial research must be considered because they have not undergone a peer review process. Where in the process experts outside examine the data before it is published in a medical journal. So that still need to be done various studies to confirm and support the results of these studies.
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