Vitamien C se effek op serumlipiede in hiperlipidemiese pasiënte

Abstract

Motivation: Coronary heart disease (CHO) is one of the main reasons for mortality in Southern Africa and worldwide. Oislipidemia and elevated lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] are important risk factors for CHO. Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin C can improve the lipid profile. According to the hypothesis of Rath and Pauling vitamin C may decrease Lp (a) levels. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on serum lipid and -Lp (a) levels in hypercholesterolemic adults, In a randomised placebo controlled double-blind cross-over study. Method: Thirty adults from the Lipid Clinic at the PU for CHE attended. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (A or B). After a run-in period of four weeks during which the subjects excluded all vitamin supplements as well as vitamin C enriched foods like tomatoes and guavas, Group A received 500mg vitamin C and Group B the placebo for 11 weeks. A washout period of 8 weeks followed after which the treatments were crossed-over for a further 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were drawn 8 times (two samples, one week apart at the beginning and end of each treatment). Blood pressure, temperature and body mass were taken. Normal daily routines were followed , an illness dairy was kept and a food frequency questionnaire was completed four times. Serum lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LOL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HOL-c), Lp (a), haemoglobin and haematocrit were measured with standard methods. The program Statistica® was used to do the statistical analysis. The compliance, as measured by pill counting, of the subjects was 77.9% for vitamin C and 81.4% for the placebo. Results: Results from this study showed that vitamin C supplementation had no effect on any variables. The TG levels were elevated during the placebo phases in the ladies, from 0.91 [95% confidence interval, 0.66, 1.16] to 1.44 [1 .11 , 1.77]mmol/L, while the LDL-c levels were reduced from 6.61 [5.49, 7.72] to 5.82 [5.18, 6.52]mmol/L in the ladies and in the total group from 5.83 [5.25, 6.41] to 5.44 [4 .98, 5.89]mmol/L. Conclusion: The conclusion can be made that vitamin C supplementation had no effect on serum lipids and - Lp (a) levels in this study.