Publication:

Efficacy and tolerability of vitamin C as an add on therapy to standard antihypertensive regimen

Background In both developing and developed countries, elevated arterial blood pressure is perhaps the most significant public health issue. It is widespread, often asymptomatic, readily observable, typically easily treatable and, if left untreated, frequently leads to lethal complications. According to the Framingham report, the prevalence of hypertension in the white suburban population is almost one-fifth of those with blood pressure >160/95 mm Hg, while almost half of those with blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg. Aim and objectives were to estimate the efficacy of vitamin C as an add-on therapy to the antihypertensive regimen.

Methods The prospective comparative study was undertaken in mild to moderate hypertensive patients to find out the efficacy and tolerability of vitamin C as an add-on therapy to the standard anti-hypertensive regimen in the reduction of blood pressure and C-reactive protein levels. This study was done at the Saraswathi institute of medical sciences, Hapur, UP.

Results For Systolic BP as well as DBP, at baseline there was non-significant difference among all the four group with p value 0.28, whereas at all the visit at 1, 3 and 6 month there was significant difference among the four group with p value<0.01, <0.001 and<0.001.

Conclusions There was significant addon benefit of vit C when added with standard antihypertensive regimen.