Vitamin C Improves Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation by Restoring Nitric Oxide Activity in Essential Hypertension

Abstract

In essential hypertensive patients, impaired endothelial vasodilation can be improved by the antioxidant vitamin C, an effect that can be reversed by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine. These findings support the hypothesis that nitric oxide inactivation by oxygen free radicals contributes to endothelial dysfunction in essential hypertension.