BREAKING THE SILENCE, 2014 Breaking The Silence | Page 12

EFFECT OF VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC
ACID) ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN
RESPONSE TO SALT LOAD IN
HUMANS
IDOWU, ABIODUN BENJAMIN, 400L PHYSIOLOGY
WINNER, 1st AMSUL Prize For Excellence in Research
INTRODUCTION
Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of
≥140mmHg, or a diastolic of ≥ 90mmHg, or taking
antihypertensive medication (1)
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The number of people with hypertension rose from
600million in 1980 to nearly one billion in 2008,(2) this
raised the global prevalence of hypertension to 40% (2)
and it has been predicted that by 2025, the prevalence
of hypertension will increase by 24% in developed
countries and alarmingly by 80% in developing
countries.(3)
OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
General Objectives
To study the effect of vitamin C (Ascorbic
Acid) ingestion on blood pressure in response
to dietary salt loading in human subjects.
Specific Objectives
·
To determine the effect of a high salt intake on
blood pressure
·
To determine the effect of vitamin C on blood
pressure in response to salt load
HYPERTENSION AND SALT INTAKE
High salt intake has been associated with high blood
pressureas shown by experimental studies in Sprague
Dawley rats (4) and Dogs (5). Epidemiological report has
also shown that communities that ingest high salt in
AMSUL Digest 2014
their diet (e.g. Northern Japan) have a high incidence of
hypertension (6) while communities that consume little
or no salt in their diet (Eskimos, Kalahari tribesmen of
South Africa and Yanomamo Indians in Brazil) have very
low incidence of hypertension(6).
Some of the pathophysiological mechanisms that have
been implicated in salt induced hypertension are;
increased venous tone,(5) increased oxidative stress,(8),
(9) increased sympathetic activity and increased
vascular resistance.(7)
METHODOLOGY
12 normotensive undergraduate male students (18 – 25
years) of College of Medicine, University of Lagos
participated in this study. Participants followed their
regular diet pattern and are not on any medication. They
were randomly divided into 2 groups;

SALT ONLY GROUP: participants (n=6) were
placed on placebo for 14 days, and were later
administered orally with 200mmol/L of dietary salt
solution each day for next 5 days.
SALT + VITAMIN C GROUP: participants (n=6)
took 500mg vitamin C daily orally for 14 days and
were afterwards administered orally with 200mmol/L
of dietary salt solution alongside 500mg vitamin C
for next 5 days.
Blood pressures, serum electrolytes, urine electrolytes
measured both before and after salt loading were
analysed using SPSS version 16.0. Statistical analysis
was done using student t-test.
