Vitamin C supplementation alleviates hypercortisolemia caused by chronic stress

The aim of this study was to determine whether ascorbic acid (AA) supplementation can lower plasma levels of Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) in patients diagnosed with functional hypercortisolemia due to unspecified chronic stress. Study includes data from 69 female with elevations in the cortisol and DHEA-S levels. Duration of follow-up was 2 months. Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I included patients 23 with elevated cortisol, Group II-patients 24 with elevated levels of both hormones, Group III- patients 22 with normal cortisol and increased DHEA-S. Each group was randomly divided into two subgroups. The first subgroup was prescribed 1000 mg daily oral dose of AA. The diet of the second subgroup were left unaltered. All patients have their hormones levels re-examined 2 months later. After 2 months of AA supplementation the mean levels of elevated plasma cortisol and DHEA-S decreased. In Group I the level of cortisol fell from 780 ± 57-446 ± 26 nmol/L, p = 0.000065 in Group II from 657 ± 47-515 ± 29 nmol/L, p = 0.005. The elevated levels of DHEA-S have also declined in patients from AA-treated subgroups (from 13.9 ± 1.6-9.9 ± 1.2, p = 0.0007 in Group II, and from 12.8 ± 1.0-7.8 ± 1.4, p = 0.003 in Group III). In untreated subgroups changes in hormone levels were insignificant. The study shows that female patients with functional hypercortisolemia or elevated levels of DHEA-S can be treated with AA to bring level of these hormones closer to a normal range.