Plasma ascorbic acid defficiency; a possible causative factor in development of essntial hypertension

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To find out ascorbic acid deficiency as a possible causative factor in development of essential hypertension. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty two male patients of essential hypertension [mild and moderate] between 40-55 years age were selected. Thirty one other healthy individuals of the same age and sex were also included in the study as controls. The mean plasma ascorbic acid levels were found to be 0.540 +/- 0.086 mg/dl, 0.372 +/- 0.068 and 0.216 +/- 0.077 mg/dl in normotensive control, mild and moderate essential hypertensive subjects. respectively. The data showed that P AA levels were significantly different in different groups depending upon the levels of blood pressure, being highest at lowest levels of blood pressure. The study showed that plasma ascorbic acid concentration had a moderate independent, inverse association with the systolic [r =0.891] and diastolic [r = 0.826] blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension increases with decrease in plasma ascorbic acid. The data suggested that plasma ascorbic acid deficiency may be one of the cause of essential hypertension in middle age male adults