Effects of vitamin C and aspirin in ischemic stroke-related lipid peroxidation: results of the AVASAS (Aspirin Versus Ascorbic acid plus Aspirin in Stroke) Study.

Abstract

A condition of oxidative stress is known to occur in ischemic stroke, the current therapeutic intervention of which is largely limited to thrombolysis. To assess the effect of vitamin C - in conjunction to aspirin - in ischemic stroke-related lipid peroxidation, we measured plasma levels of ascorbate, of 8,12-isoprostanes F2alpha-VI (8,12-iPF2alpha-VI) and activities and levels of a broad spectrum of antioxidant enzymes and micronutrients in stroke patients randomized to receive, from stroke onset and up to three months, either vitamin C (200 mg/day) plus aspirin (300 mg/day) or only aspirin (300 mg/day). By the end of the first week, patients treated with vitamin C plus aspirin had higher vitamin C levels (p = 0.02) and lower 8,12-iPF2alpha-VI levels (p = 0.01) than patients treated with aspirin alone. The significance was maintained for the increase of vitamin C after three months of therapy (p < 0.01). The clinical functional outcome for both groups of patients similarly ameliorated after three months of treatment. We conclude that vitamin C, at the dose of 200 mg/day and in conjunction with aspirin, significantly decreases ischemic stroke-related lipid peroxidation in humans. Further studies are warranted to clarify whether the use of vitamin C may add clinical long-term beneficial effects in patients with stroke.

• Authors: M Cristina Polidori, Domenico Praticó, Tiziana Ingegni, Elena Mariani, Liana Spazzafumo, Paola Del Sindaco, Roberta Cecchetti, Yuemang Yao, Stefano Ricci, Antonio Cherubini, Wilhelm Stahl, Helmut Sies, Umberto Senin, Patrizia Mecocci, AVASAS Study Group
• Journal: BioFactors (Oxford, England) (Biofactors) Vol. 24 Issue 1-4 Pg. 265-74 ( 2005) ISSN: 0951-6433 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16403987 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 8,12-iso-isoprostane F2alpha-VI
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• Uric Acid
• Carotenoids
• Dinoprost
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Ascorbic Acid
• Aspirin

Topics

• Ascorbic Acid (administration & dosage, blood)
• Aspirin (administration & dosage)
• Carotenoids (blood)
• Dinoprost (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Humans
• Kinetics
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Stroke (blood, drug therapy)
• Superoxide Dismutase (blood)
• Uric Acid (blood)
• Vitamin A (blood)
• Vitamin E (blood)