In older adults high intakes of ascorbic acid have modest effects on lowering high systolic blood pressure, which could contribute to the reported association between higher vitamin C intake and lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Summary:Simultaneous noninvasive blood pressure measurements were recorded bilaterally in 40 young and 40 elderly subjects. Overall interarm blood pressure (BP) differences for the elderly and young groups were similar, the absolute interarm differences being for systolic blood pressure (SBP) elderly: 4.2 mmHg (95% CI 3.1-5.3 mmHg); young 3.3 mmHg (2.6-4.1 mmHg); diastolic blood pressure (DBP) elderly 3.6 mmHg (2.8-4.4 mmHg), young 2.7 mmHg (2.0-3.3 mmHg). However, the range ofinterarm BP differences was wide. Four (10%) of the elderly had an interarm SBP difference > 10 mmHg compared to one (3%) ofthe young group. Interarm DBP differences > 8 mmHg were found in three (8%) of the elderly and in none of the young group. Although age does not affect mean interarm BP differences, clinically important interarm BP differences exist in both young and elderly subjects. Blood pressure should be measured in both arms of all patients at initial assessment to avoid potential problems with misclassification of blood pressure. status.

Although there was a large fall in causal BPs seen in both groups there was only a small, but a significant fall in mean 24-h BP over the first week following hemispheric stroke that was not seen in control subjects. Although the 'white coat effect' and admission to hospital play an important part in the high casual BP observed in the days following acute stroke they are unlikely to be the sole factors.

This study provides evidence that elevated 24 h systolic BP in the acute stroke period is associated with increased long-term mortality. This may have implications in the therapeutic management of BP following stroke, though further research is required to determine the timing, nature and effect of such an intervention.