Ascorbic acid supplementation does not lower plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations

Elevated plasma concentrations of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) are associated wit h premature coronary heart disease (CHD). Lp(a) is a lipoprotein particle c onsisting of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) with apolipoprotein (apo) (a) at tached to the apo B-100 component of LDL. It has been hypothesized that asc orbic acid supplementation may reduce plasma levels of Lp(a). The purpose o f this study was to determine whether ascorbic acid supplementation at a do se of 1 g/day would lower plasma concentrations of Lp(a) when studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded fashion. One hundred and one health y men and women ranging in age from 20 to 69 years were studied for 8 month s. Lp(a) values at baseline for the placebo group (n = 52) and the ascorbic acid supplemented group (n = 49) were 0.026 and 0.033 g/l, respectively. T he 8-month concentrations were 0.027 g/l (placebo) and 0.038 g/l (supplemen ted group). None of these values were significantly different from each oth er. In addition, no difference in plasma Lp(a) concentration was seen betwe en the placebo and supplemented groups when only subjects with an initial L p(a) value of greater than or equal to 0.050 g/l were analyzed. Our data in dicate that plasma Lp(a) concentrations are not significantly affected by a scorbic acid supplementation in healthy human subjects. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.