Physiological Benefits Derived from the Antihistamine Effect of Vitamin

Physiological Benefits Derived from the Antihistamine Effect of Vitamin C 

Although it is well documented in humans and guinea pigs that exogenously administered vitamin C lowers blood histamine levels in vivo (Clemetson, 1980 Chatterjee et al., 1975 Johnston et al., 1992a,b), more research is needed to determine the physiological benefit of this effect, particularly under stress conditions. However, there are several reports in the recent literature indicating beneficial effects of supplemental vitamin C, which can be related to the vitamin s antihistamine effect. 

The administered ascorbate did not alter mean FEVi or MEF50 values however, following a histamine bronchial challenge, vitamin C administration significantly increased, by 40%, the amount of histamine required to cause a 15% decrease in FEVi (Bucca et ai, 1990). Although tissue histamine levels were not measured in this study, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that vitamin C non-enzymatically degrades histamine in vivo, thereby protecting tissue from excess Hp receptor activation. 

We conducted a similar study in guinea pigs fed 0.5 mg, 2.0 mg, or 50 mg ascorbate/100 g body weight (marginal, adequate, and excessive dietary vitamin C, 

Mean ( SEM) Plasma Vitamin C, Blood Histamine, and Neutrophil Chemotaxis in Healthy Adults with and without Vitamin C Supplementation  

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