No Effect on Serum Lipids by Moderate and High Doses of Vitamin C in Elderly Subjects with Low Plasma Ascorbic Acid Levels

Abstract

The influence of dietary supplementation with moderate (200 mg/day) and high (2,000 mg/day) doses of vitamin C on serum lipid levels was studied in 27 female long-stay hospital patients characterized by low plasma ascorbic acid levels during the preceding year. The two doses of vitamin C were compared with placebo in a double-blind, cross-over design during randomly determined 6-week periods followed by 2-week washout intervals. No effect was observed on serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Plasma ascorbic acid levels were highly significantly increased (p < 0.001) by both doses of vitamin C. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with moderate or high doses of vitamin C does not affect serum lipids of persons who have low plasma ascorbic acid levels suggestive of possible marginal deficiency of vitamin C.