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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2009 Jan 1;46(1):70-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.09.030. Epub 2008 Oct 10.

Vitamin C treatment reduces elevated C-reactive protein

Gladys Block  1 , Christopher D Jensen, Tapashi B Dalvi, Edward P Norkus, Mark Hudes, Patricia B Crawford, Nina Holland, Ellen B Fung, Laurie Schumacher, Paul Harmatz
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Vitamin C treatment reduces elevated C-reactive protein

Gladys Block et al. Free Radic Biol Med. .

Abstract

Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory biomarker that predicts cardiovascular disease. Lowering elevated CRP with statins has reduced the incidence of cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether vitamin C or E could reduce CRP. Healthy nonsmokers (N=396) were randomized to three groups, 1000 mg/day vitamin C, 800 IU/day vitamin E, or placebo, for 2 months. Median baseline CRP was low, 0.85 mg/L. No treatment effect was seen when all participants were included. However, a significant interaction was found, indicating that treatment effect depends on baseline CRP concentration. Among participants with CRP indicative of elevated cardiovascular risk (> or =1.0 mg/L), vitamin C reduced the median CRP by 25.3% vs placebo (p=0.02) (median reduction in the vitamin C group, 0.25 mg/L, 16.7%). These effects are similar to those of statins. The vitamin E effect was not significant. In summary, treatment with vitamin C but not vitamin E significantly reduced CRP among individuals with CRP > or =1.0 mg/L. Among the obese, 75% had CRP > or =1.0 mg/L. Research is needed to determine whether reducing this inflammatory biomarker with vitamin C could reduce diseases associated with obesity. But research on clinical benefits of antioxidants should limit participants to persons with elevations in the target biomarkers.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow.diagram of participant progress through the study
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vertical axis, CRP mg/L. Two plots are shown, CRP distribution in those with CRP < 10 mg/L, and in those with CRP ≥ 10 mg/L. The boxes indicate 25th, 50th and 75th percentile, and the tails on the boxes represent minimum and maximum.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percent with CRP ≥ 1.0 mg/L at baseline, by BMI status. P=0.0001 for difference in groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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