When vitamin C runs low, its impact isn’t just skin‑deep, it can also affect the heart and lungs, sometimes contributing to shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention. Severe vitamin C deficiency has been reported as a reversible cause of pulmonary hypertension and right‑sided heart failure, with pressures in the lung circulation and cardiac strain improving after vitamin C is replaced. Broader cardiovascular research also links low vitamin C with higher blood pressure and stiffer arteries, while short‑term supplementation in some hypertensive or diabetic patients has lowered systolic blood pressure and improved arterial stiffness, suggesting that adequate vitamin C helps support healthier vascular tone and cardiac workload. This medication is commonly used for Pain Management.
Kurnick A, Zaveri S, Tadayoni A, Chandrakumar HP, John S. Reversible severe pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure with cardiogenic shock due to scurvy: a case report. Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2023 Aug 17;7(8):ytad404. Duvall MG, Pikman Y, Kantor DB, Ariagno K, Summers L, Sectish TC, Mullen MP. Pulmonary hypertension associated with scurvy and vitamin deficiencies in an autistic child. Pediatrics. 2013 Dec;132(6):e1699-703. Abe K, Kibe R, David K, Reddy V, Allard B, Fakaosita M. Reversible right-sided heart failure and pulmonary hypertension caused by scurvy in a 7-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder and a review of the literature. Paediatr Int Child Health. 2023 Nov;43(4):95-99. Conte L, Louden J, Weber LA. Multivalve dysfunction and cardiogenic shock linked to scurvy: A case report. Anatol J Cardiol. 2021 May;25(5):355-359.
Some side effects may be linked to nutrient depletion caused by this medication.
Regular aspirin use, even at therapeutic doses, can lead to lower-than-normal levels of folate in the blood (serum folate). Additionally, aspirin might slightly increase the amount of folate excreted in urine, potentially disrupting the body's folate balance. For those taking regular aspirin therapy, folic acid supplementation should be considered to prevent a deficiency.
Studies indicate that medications like aspirin can increase zinc loss through urine. Zinc plays a vital role in wound healing, protein synthesis, cell reproduction, immunity, and vision. If you take aspirin regularly, consider monitoring zinc levels and supplementation may be beneficial to prevent a deficiency.
Regular use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) can increase how much vitamin C your body gets rid of through urine, potentially leading to deficiency. If you take aspirin regularly, consider supplementing with vitamin C supplementation.
Research found that individuals hospitalized with heart disease and a history of aspirin use were nearly twice as likely to have low or borderline vitamin B12 levels compared to non-aspirin users. While this doesn't definitively prove aspirin causes B12 deficiency, it raises a potential link. Aspirin can irritate the stomach lining in some individuals. This is concerning because the stomach plays a crucial role in vitamin B12 absorption by producing hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor. Both are essential for proper B12 uptake.