Positive Health Online

Abstract

CHEN and co-workers, Department of Medi, Tulane Universiy School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, assess serum antioxidant vitamins and blood pressure in the United States population.

Background

Serum vitamin C has been inversely associated with blood pressure in several epidemiological studies, but little is known about the effects of other antioxidant vitamins.

Methodology

The relation between serum levels of vitamins A, C, E, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene, and blood pressure amongst 15,317 men and women aged 20 and over who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was examined. Blood pressure was characterized as the average of 6 measurements obtained over 2 visits by trained observers, and hypertension was defined as blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or over, and/or taking antihypertensive medication.

Results

In multivariate models, a 1 SD difference in vitamin A and vitamin E was associated with a 43% and 18% higher odds of hypertension, respectively. A 1 SD difference in aplpha-carotene and beta-carotene was associated with a 16% and 11% lower odds of hypertension. In addition, serum vitamins A and E were positively correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, whereas alpha- and beta-carotene were inversely associated with systolic blood pressure. Vitamin C was associated with diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that antioxidant vitamins may be important in the prevention of hypertension.

References

Chen J< He J, Hamm L, Batuman V, Whelton PK. Serum antioxidant vitamins and blood pressure in the United States population. Hypertension 40 (6): 810-816, Dec 2002.