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Serum vitamin C concentration and hs-CRP level in middle-aged Japanese men and women

Yoshimi Kubota1, Yuri Moriyama, Kazumasa Yamagishi

  • 1Public Health, Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita-shi, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.

Atherosclerosis
|September 1, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Higher serum vitamin C levels are linked to lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in middle-aged adults. This inverse association suggests vitamin C may play a role in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Biomarker Analysis

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
  • Serum vitamin C is recognized for its antioxidant properties and potential role in CVD prevention.
  • High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a well-established inflammatory marker and predictor of CVD risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum vitamin C concentrations and hs-CRP levels in a population-based sample.
  • To explore potential differences in this association based on demographic factors such as sex, smoking status, and menopausal status.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design involving 778 men and 1404 women aged 40-69 years.
  • Data collected as part of the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS) in Kyowa, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.
  • Statistical analysis to determine multivariable-adjusted associations between serum vitamin C quintiles and hs-CRP levels.

Main Results:

  • A significant inverse association was observed between serum vitamin C concentrations and hs-CRP levels in both men and women.
  • Mean hs-CRP levels decreased progressively with increasing quintiles of serum vitamin C (P for trend <0.001 for both sexes).
  • The inverse relationship was more pronounced in non-smoking men and women, non-overweight women, and postmenopausal women.

Conclusions:

  • Serum vitamin C concentrations are inversely associated with hs-CRP levels in middle-aged men and women.
  • This association is particularly evident in specific subgroups, including non-smokers, non-overweight women, and postmenopausal women.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the roles of serum vitamin C and hs-CRP in the pathogenesis and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Abstract

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