Vitamin C linked to reduced stroke risk

A small study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology indicated that risk of hemorrhagic stroke is lower among people with normal vitamin C blood levels compared to those with low or deficient levels.

While hemorrhagic stroke is less common than ischemic stroke, it is the deadlier of the two.

"Our results show that vitamin C deficiency should be considered a risk factor for this severe type of stroke, as were high blood pressure, drinking alcohol and being overweight in our study," study researcher Dr. Stéphane Vannier, MD of Pontchaillou University Hospital in France, said in a statement. "More research is needed to explore specifically how vitamin C may help to reduce stroke risk. For example, the vitamin may regulate blood pressure."

The study involved testing vitamin C blood levels in 65 individuals who had suffered an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke and 65 people who had never had a stroke. Research showed that of all 130 people, 45% had normal vitamin C levels and 45%had very low levels. The people who had not experienced strokes were those with high levels of the vitamin.

While this research is still considered in the preliminary stage as it has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, past studies have also linked vitamin C with reduced stroke risk. A 2008 University of Cambridge study found people with high blood levels of vitamin C reduced their stroke risk by 42 percent, and a similar 1995 study in the British Medical Journal indicated elderly people with low levels of the vitamin had a greater risk of stroke.

This research would only add to the long list of vitamin C benefits, such as its ability to boost immunity. Recommended doses for adult men and women are 90 and 75 milligrams per day, respectively.

First Published: Feb 19, 2014 17:47 IST