VITAMIN C AS A MARKER OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HYPERTENSION

The etiology of essential hypertension includes increased oxidative stress. Vitamin C is one of the potent reducing agents and scavenger of free radicals in biological systems. The role of benefit of vitamin C, an antioxidant to antihypertensive therapy were studied along with MDA level in comparison with control. It was found plasma ascorbic acid concentration to be inversely associated with systolic and diastolic BP in hypertensive subjects. A decrease in Vitamin C, an increase in malondialdehyde levels were observed in hypertensive group as compared to control. The increase in MDA and decrease in Vitamin C were statistically significant. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that may decrease the blood pressure (BP) and influence the endothelial dysfunction.