 |
Vitamin C May Improve Smokers Blood Circulation
A dose of vitamin C may give a quick boost to the poorer-than-average blood circulation seen in healthy young smokers, a study suggests.
The study of 25 healthy men found that although smokers initially showed poorer results on a test of blood flow to the heart that changed after they took a large dose - 2 grams - of vitamin C. Shortly after taking the vitamin, the 13 smokers showed blood circulation on par with that of the 12 non-smokers, according to findings published in a leading heart journal. However, lest smokers think they can undo heart damage by chasing a cigarette with a vitamin C pill, the researchers say their findings underline the dangers of smoking. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, a substance that helps clear the body of cell-damaging molecules called oxygen free radicals. Because of this, it's thought that the vitamin may counter the "oxidative stress" that smoking puts on the lining of the blood vessels - a mechanism by which smoking leads to artery disease. The new study looked at the effect of oral vitamin C on coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), a measure of how well blood flow speeds up to help the heart when it's under high demands. Past research has shown that smokers show poorer blood-vessel dilation in response to blood flow, and have a diminished CFVR. The research team used a non-invasive ultrasound technique to measure CFVR in smokers and non-smokers, before and after they took vitamin C.
They found that before taking the vitamin, smokers had a lower CFVR than non-smokers did. Two and four hours after the dose of vitamin C, however, smokers' average CFVR was "restored" to a more-normal level. Though the men in the study were given a large dose of vitamin C, researchers pointed out that it's probably useless to take doses beyond 200 milligrams, because the body will excrete the excess. Moreover, it's not clear that loading up on vitamin C can benefit smokers. Some trials have found that taking C supplements does not improve smokers' blood vessel function, at least in the short term. Researchers said further, large-scale trials should look at whether daily vitamin C supplements cut smokers' long-term risk of coronary artery disease. Tanya Roberts is research associate, www.onlinesmoker.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What Can Muscle Milk Do For Me?
As the name suggests, muscle milk is a supplement that is rich in the proteins necessary for ultimate muscle growth and fitness. Essentially having its beginnings in the composition of human mother's milk after much research muscle milk emerges as a much-improved version.
Vitamin B-Complex: Gastric Bypass Patients Must Supplement
The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate amounts of B-complex vitamins from food sources from entering the body of weight loss surgery patients. Annual blood tests indicate that patients who do not supplement their diet with B-Complex Vitamins are deficient.
PhytoNutrients
We have all heard that it is important to eat fruits and vegetables everyday. Some of us actually do eat the minimum recommended servings.
Coral Calcium: Achieving Optimum Health
The more I study health and fitness, the more convinced I become that the well-maintained human body is a truly remarkable machine. Every small part functioning in its place.
Glyconutrients Will Be Revolutionary in Future Medicine - A Health Supplement
PART ONEThe word Glyconutrients, is not a Brand, or Company name, but is the name given to the Essential Sugars needed for Optimal Health.Glyco is the Greek word for sweet and of course Nutrients mean, nourishing food or nourishment.
Introduing Supplements to Your Body & Improving Your Diet - A Guide of What to Expect
Part 1:A "better nutritional program" means the introduction of foods and supplements of a higher quality, such as (Mexican Wild) Yam, (mono)saccharides, Phytochemicals or/& Food Form Vitamins, in place of lower quality supplements. The closer the food comes to the natural state in which it occurs, or the closer it comes to its raw, uncooked form, the higher its quality.
Iron Mineral101
Iron is a mineral that is essential to the health and functioning of the body. Deficiencies in iron can have serious consequences for overall health and even energy levels.
Vitamin Euphoria - A Shot in the Dark
Vitamins seem to be so good for everything. The newly born needs them to grow properly; women take them to be happy; men use them to maintain or increase potency; athletes ingest them to stay fit; and older people take them to become younger or to avoid the flu.
Protect and Improve Your Health With Antioxidants
Every minute of every day the cells of our bodies are assaulted by particles called oxygen free radicals, also called oxidants. We can't escape free radicals because our cells produce them during normal metabolism.
Achieving Youthful Healthy Skin with Vitamins A, C, and E
We all want healthy skin. While the main reasons for pursuing healthy skin tend to be purely shallow and cosmetic in nature, healthy skin is beautiful and keeps us looking younger than our years and there are actually some practical health benefits to maintaining the good health for our skin.
Nutritional Supplements - How To Choose A High Quality Product
Looking for quality nutritional supplements can seem quite overwhelming at times, especially if you're just starting out. It is just as important to be sure you're taking high quality supplements as it is to take the right supplements, because there's no point in taking them if they don't work.
Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - ZMA
ZMA is a scientifically designed anabolic mineral formula containing zinc monomethionine aspartate, magnesium aspartate and vitamin B-6. Studies have shown that it has a clinical effect on testosterone levels when taken in a combination containing 30 mg of zinc and 450 mg of magnesium per day.
Vitamin Treatment Guide
Vitamins and minerals play a major role in becoming healthy and remaining healthy. Weather your new to nutrition or you've been a health-o-condreact for years, you know how hard it is to find the right supplementation that fits your specific needs.
Riboflavin for Migraine Headache Relief
Supplementing with relatively small amounts of riboflavin (vitamin B2) may reduce the severity and frequency of migraines in chronic sufferers, reports a study in Headache (2004;44:885-90). Previous studies showing that riboflavin can prevent migraines used 400 mg per day, which is at least 200 times the amount in a typical diet.
Vitamin B1 and Its Importance to Mental Health
Vitamin B1 also called as thiamine is one of the eight vitamins that make up the powerful group called as the Vitamin B complex. Like all of the B vitamins this nutrient plays a great role in the good health of the body as well as a sound mental health.
Vitamin B-1
Did you know that vitamin B-1 has two other widely used names?
Thiamine is a name used in the US and Aneurin is the popular name in Europe. Thiamin (without the e) is also used to refer to B-1.
Vitamins - Childrens and Multivitamins
Most parents' think their children are eating a fairly healthy and if not they throw their hands up in the air and give up. They then ply their children with multivitamins.
The Vitamin Breakdown
Vitamins are organic compounds that the human body cannot produce and therefore must acquire through the diet. To help maintain good health, humans need 13 different vitamins.
Liquid Vitamins and Nutrition - or Pills ?
Liquid vitaminsHardly does a day pass without the liquid vitamins viruses pills debate goes on.The important overall issue is getting good nutrition through food supplements.
Vitamin A and C: How They Affect The Skin
Benefits of using Vitamin A products:Retinol is pure and active Vitamin A. Vitamin A is one of the few substances with a small enough molecular structure to penetrate the outer layers of the skin and work to repair AND stimulate the lower layers of the skin where collagen and elastin reside creating firmer smoother skin.
|
