Vitamin C & POTS

[Bluebonnet08]

I've been doing some research looking into nutrient-deficiencies and POTS.  I found a study published in "The American Journal of Physiology, Heart & Cardiology" which found that Vitamin C can improve blood flow in POTs patients by 40%!  Yet another thing that I have not heard from my cardiologist or autonomic specialist.  Just an FYI.  I am going to start a higher dose once I deliver my baby & see if it helps.  I haven't been tested for Vitamin C yet.. is there a blood test for it?  I'm not sure.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3191072/

[MomtoGiuliana]

Thanks for sharing.  I am not sure about a test for Vit c either. 

[Pistol]

@Bluebonnet08 - as far as I know there is no test for vit C because it is a water soluble vitamin, that means any excess gets eliminated by your body. There are symptoms that you can get from not getting enough vitamin C ( scurvy etc ) but you would have to be severely malnourished. These days we get plenty Vit C from a regular diet. People like to take extra vitamin C because it is an anti-oxidant and helps your body to fight free radicals. However - you can not hurt yourself by taking too much, so it may be something that helps. 

[Shannoncr]

for whatever it’s worth, when I was hospitalized & trying to get my ferritin up, they used to give me vitamin C & iron supplements (oral) together. they said it helps enhance absorption. (It didn’t work for me, but I’m a weirdo)  I know calcium blocks the absorption of iron. 

[p8d]

When I take higher doses (500mg) I get diarrhea which is a known side effect https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-c/faq-20058030  I guess if you are prone to it, as I am, it’s something to bear in mind.

[insertclevernamehere]

I don't think that study is about Vitamin C specifically, so much as that high doses of Vitamin C is one way to raise nitric oxide levels, which are low in the "low flow" type POTS. I think it would make other kinds of POTS worse, since it's a vasodilator?

I'm trialling Losartan for suspected low-flow POTS right now, which also raises nitric oxide (and lowers angiotensin II). I'm going to need to find something else, since it's dropping my blood pressure too low at the lowest dose, but I've definitely noticed a bit of improvement in brain fog and HR on it. Not sure if there's other supplements that would be better side-effect-wise for that than Vitamin C, but hope it helps you!