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507 EFFECT OF VITAMIN C INGESTION ON CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO CUTANEOUS COLD STRESS DURING MENSTRUAL CYCLE IN YOUNG ADULT NIGERIANS

Background: The impact of cold stress in the development of hypertension remains an area of research interest.It has been reported that the prevalence of hypertension and related cardiovascular disease is higher among people who live in colder regions. Cold pressor test (CPT) is employed to evoke sympathetic-mediated cardiovascular responses, and has been shown to predict the development of hypertension. Because ovarian hormones affect numerous physiological variables thatmay alter sympathetic-mediated cardiovascular responses, the aim of the study isto determine the effect of oral vitamin C on cardiovascular responses to CPT across the menstrual cyclephases in young women. Methods: Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) induced by CPT were determined in fifteen healthy young women with regular menstrual cycle with or without vitamin C pretreatment. CPT was performed by immersing left hand in water at 4°C for 2 min. Result: Results showed that CPT without vitamin C pretreatment induced significant increases in SBP, DBP, MAP and HR during the luteal phase but only in SBP in the menstrual and follicular phases. Pretreatment with vitamin C abrogated CPT-induced tachycardiac response during the luteal phase while the pressor response across the menstrual cycle was not affected by vitamin C pretreatment. Conclusion: These data suggest that vitamin C ingestion may impact cardioprotective effect particularly during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, ingestion of vitamin C may not affect sympathetic-mediated pressor response in young women.