Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, is essential for making collagen, a structural component of veins and arteries. Collagen helps keep your arteries smooth and pliable, allowing blood to flow freely. Having a poor diet or not ingesting enough vitamin C may wreak havoc on normally healthy arteries. Before you decide to take a vitamin C supplement, talk with your physician to avoid any interactions with medications or negative effects.
Hardening of the Arteries
Arteries are flexible, elastic tubes that carry blood, oxygen and nutrients from your heart to other areas of your body. Your arteries may become hard when excessive pressure over a period of time causes them to become stiff and thick, a condition called "arteriosclerosis." Having chronic high blood pressure may eventually lead to arteriosclerosis, increasing your risk of serious complications. Arteriosclerosis is often used interchangeably with another term, "atherosclerosis," which is a type of arteriosclerosis in which arteries become hard from fat buildup, or plaque, on arterial walls.
What Vitamin C Does for Arteries
Vitamin C is most commonly known for its role in boosting your immune system, but it also plays several other important roles. It acts like an antioxidant, meaning it fights off harmful reactive compounds known as "free radicals" that damage cells and structures, including arteries. Vitamin C also allows your coronary arteries to fully dilate or relax, called "vasodilation," so blood can pass through freely. Having impaired vasodilation can increase your risk of heart disease, as well as high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and congestive heart failure, the Linus Pauling Institute says. Avoid or reduce your risk of these serious health problems by getting adequate vitamin C in your daily diet.
Additional Benefits for Arteries
Getting adequate vitamin C in your diet may help improve the fluidity of your arteries, preventing or treating arteriosclerosis. According to MedlinePlus, vitamin C may help treat hard arteries, possibly preventing blood clots, high blood pressure and stroke. Talk with your health care provider before you decide to take a supplement on your own for this purpose.
How Much You Need
Since vitamin C is important for overall health, you need a large amount each day. Women need 75 mg and men require 90 mg, the Linus Pauling Institute reports. Smoking increases your risk of damage from free radicals and hardening of the arteries. If you smoke, up your intake to 110 mg per day for women and 125 mg for men. Consuming more vitamin C-rich foods, such as broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, strawberries, red peppers and potatoes, can boost the amount of vitamin C in your body so you may not have to take a supplement.
