Handbook of Vitamin C Research

In: Handbook of Vitamin C Research ISBN: 978-1-60741-874-0Editors: Hubert Kucharski and Julek Zajac©2009 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.Chapter XIIIProtective Effect of Vitamin Con Vascular Damage and ArterialHypertension Induced by Low-LevelMercury and Lead ExposureAntonio J. López-Farré 1 , José J. Zamorano-León 1 , Daniel Sacristán 1 ,Maria Marques 2 , Carlos Macaya 1and Alberto Barrientos 21 Cardiovascular Research Unit, Cardiology Department and 2 Nephrology Department,Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Madrid, SpainAbstractDifferent heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, are potential chemicalcontaminants contained in air, water and foods, particularly fish. Several studies havereported that these toxic metals may affect the vascular system. Chronic exposure tomercury and lead has been associated with numerous cardiovascular disorders such ashypertension, endothelial dysfunction and nephrotoxicity. Most of the deleterious effectsof mercury and lead on the vascular wall have been attributed to their pro-oxidantproperties. Vitamin C, due to its antioxidant properties, may play a protective role in thevascular damage induced by chronic exposure to mercury and lead. It has been describedthat vitamin C administration prevents the increase of mean arterial blood pressure,restoring the normal expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and solubleguanylate cyclase proteins in the vascular wall of lead-exposed rats. This protective roleof vitamin C in endothelial functionality suggests that vitamin C supplementation may bebeneficial for subjects submitted to chronic heavy metal exposure. This chapter willCorrespondence to: Antonio José López Farré, C/ Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, CP:28040, Cardiovascular ResearchUnit, Cardiology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. Email:lcarinv.hcsc@salud.madrid.org; Telephone:+34 913303000 ext. 7747.