The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58571

Linda M Dong, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 4213 Stone Way, Apt. 410, Seattle, WA 98103, (510) 368-0761, lmdong@hotmail.com, Gladys Block, PhD, School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, Edward P Norkus, PhD, Department of Biomedical Research, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, 600 East 233rd St, Bronx, NY 10466, and Patricia Crawford, DrPH, RD, Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, 9 A/B Morgan Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3104.

The high prevalence of hypertension and its relation to the leading causes of death in the United States make it imperative to seek factors that may be useful in the primary prevention of this condition. Past studies have demonstrated that nutritional factors play an important role in the cause and prevention of hypertension. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma ascorbic acid levels and blood pressure in young women participating in the National Heart Lung Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS). The biracial cohort consisted of 155 Black and 88 White women aged 18-21 years in Richmond, California. Plasma ascorbic acid was determined using the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 110 and 67 mmHg, respectively. A significant inverse association (p < 0.0001) between plasma ascorbic acid levels and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed for this cohort, and was consistently seen after adjustment for possible confounders in multivariate analysis. A 1 mg/dL increase in plasma ascorbic acid levels was associated with 3.7 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and 4.0 mmHg lower diastolic blood pressure. This suggests the possibility that maintaining an adequate plasma ascorbic acid status may reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure and may be achievable at a young age in women.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Recognize behavioral and life style risk factors associated with hypertension.
• Assess the evidence supporting the relationship between Vitamin C and blood pressure.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.