Plasma ascorbic acid concentrations relate inversely to blood pressure in human subjects

This study relates antioxidant status and blood pressure (BP) in 168 healthy residents of Augusta, GA, following usual diets. BP ranges were systolic (S) 84–152, mean 112 ± 1 mm Hg, and diastolic (D) 52–96, mean 72 ± 1 mm Hg. Plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) were significantly inversely related to SBP (r = −0.18, P < 0.05) and DBP (r = −0.20, P < 0.01); with regression equations SBP vs AA = −0.083C + 116 and DBP = −0.077C + 76. Highest and lowest quintiles of A A differed significantly in mean SBP (108 ± 2, 113 ± 2 mm Hg) and DBP (69 ± 1, 74 ± 2), P < 0.05. Plasma AA concentrations were significantly lower in the smokers. By deleting smokers, the inverse relations of SBP and DBP with plasma AA and the slopes of the equation were enhanced. Plasma selenium, α-tocopherol, α-tocopherol:cholesterol ratio, retinol and taurine were not related to BP; whereas male gender, body mass index, body fat distribution, plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides correlated.