Vitamin C and Cardiovascular Risk

Study Goal #1: Determine the optimal oral dose of vitamin C to reduce surrogate markers of atherosclerosis (blockages in blood vessels) following the consumption of an atherogenic high fat lunch in type 2 diabetic individuals. Study Goal #2: After conducting the original study, we found that vitamin E was not effective in reducing the markers of oxidative stress, hypercoagulation, inflammation, and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. To date, data from randomized trials have largely demonstrated no significant benefit of vitamin E supplementation on the prevention of primary and/or secondary cardiovascular disease as once thought. Therefore, we decided to amend our current protocol to add a Part B to study only the effects of vitamin C at the following doses: 500 mg, 1000 mg, and 2000 mg daily (and include a placebo arm, as well.