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Interactions between vitamins C and E in human subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Iona M. J. Hamilton ,
William S. Gilmore ,
Iris F. F. Benzie ,
Clive W. Mulholland  and
J. J. Strain
Iona M. J. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK
William S. Gilmore
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK
Iris F. F. Benzie
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Clive W. Mulholland
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK
J. J. Strain*
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Professor J. J. Strain, fax +44 1265 324965, email J.J.Strain@ulst.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Despite convincing in vitro evidence, a vitamin C–E interaction has not been confirmed in vivo. This study was designed to examine the effects of supplementation with either vitamin C or E on their respective plasma concentrations, other antioxidants, lipids and some haemostatic variables. Fasting blood was collected before and after intervention from thirty healthy adults in a double-blinded crossover study. Baselines for measured variables were established after 2 weeks of placebo supplementation, followed by daily supplementation with 73·5 mg RRR-α-tocopherol acetate or 500 mg ascorbic acid, and placebo, for 6 weeks. A 2 month washout preceded supplement crossover. Mean values showed that plasma lipid standardised α-tocopherol increased with ascorbic acid supplementation: from 4·09 (SEM 0·51) TO 4·53 (sem 0·66) μmol/mmol total cholesterol plus triacylglycerol (P < 0·05), and plasma ascorbic acid increased from 62·8 (sem 14·9) to 101·3 (sem 22·2) μmol/l (P < 0·005). Supplementation with (RRR)-α-tocopherol acetate increased plasma α-tocopherol from 26·8 (sem 3·9) to 32·2 (sem 3·8) μmol/l (P < 0·05), and lipid-standardised α-tocopherol from 4·12 (sem 0·48) to 5·38 (sem 0·52) μmol/mmol (P < 0·001). Mean plasma ascorbic acid also increased with vitamin E supplementation, from 64·4 (sem 13·3) to 76·4 (sem 18·4) μmol/l (P < 0·05). Plasma ferric reducing (antioxidant) power and glutathione peroxidase (U/g haemoglobin) increased in both groups, while urate, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels decreased (P < 0·05 throughout). Results are supportive of an in vivo interaction between vitamins C and E.

Keywords

AntioxidantsVitamin CVitamin E
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 84 , Issue 3 , September 2000 , pp. 261 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2000

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