By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday April 10, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking vitamin C supplements for a short term reduces both systolic blood pressure (SBP)  and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), according to a new analysis of clinical trials released most recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The meta-analysis led by Stephen P Juraschek of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and colleagues showed that taking as low as 500 mg per day of vitamin C for an average of eight weeks lowered SBP and DBP by 3.84 mm Hg and 1.48 mm Hg, respectively.

Among participants who had hypertension or high blood pressure, taking vitamin C reduced SBP and DBP by 4.85 mm Hg  and 1.67 mm Hg, respecively.

Included in the analysis were 29 trials in which the median dose was 500 mg/day, the mediam duration of study was 8 weeks and the trial sizes ranged from 10 to 120 participants.

The researchers said in their report that observational studies indicated increased vitamin C intake, vitamin C supplementation, and higher serum vitamin C are all associated with lower blood pressure.

This meta-analysis was intended to examine the blood pressure-lowering effects of vitamin C in clinical trials.  Previous  trials were inconsistent.

The researchers concluded that "vitamin C supplementation reduced SBP and DBP. Long-term trials on the effects of vitamin C supplementation on BP and clinical events are needed."

Late famous chemist Dr. Linus Pauling recommended that people need to have increasing intake of vitamin C as they are getting older.  People in their 50's may take 5000 mg per day.  Vitamin C does not result in any side or adverse effects.

Intraveous injection of vitamin C solution has been found to protect against cancer. This vitamin may also help diabetes and heart disease among other things.

It should be pointed out that vitamin C supplements on the market may be full of fillers.  Foodconsumer.org recommends that food consumers should use 100% pure vitamin C.

Foodconsumer.org early reported that IV vitamin C can prevent damage induced by cancer-causing radiation, prevent gastric cancer, lung cancer, Alzheimer's disease, leukemia, prostate cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, smoke-induced atherosclerosis, infections, diabetes, heart failure damage, heart disease, age-related cataract, gout, inhibit HIV replication, and promote wound healing.