Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin C (Ascorbate)
For the health condition: Capillary Weakness

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin C (ascorbate) is scientifically recognized for its role in supporting capillary integrity and preventing capillary fragility. The biological rationale stems from vitamin C's essential function as a cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase, enzymes involved in the synthesis and stabilization of collagen, a primary structural protein in blood vessels. Collagen provides tensile strength to capillary walls, and deficiency of vitamin C—classically seen in scurvy—results in defective collagen synthesis, leading to weakened capillaries and manifestations such as petechiae, purpura, and easy bruising.

Clinical evidence directly linking vitamin C supplementation to the treatment of mild capillary fragility in non-scorbutic individuals is limited but present. Small studies and case reports suggest that vitamin C supplementation (typically 500-1000 mg/day) may reduce symptoms like easy bruising in individuals with suboptimal vitamin C status or mild capillary fragility. For example, a double-blind study in the 1960s indicated that vitamin C reduced capillary fragility measured by the Rumpel-Leede test. Modern clinical trials are scarce, and most evidence is extrapolated from the known pathophysiology of vitamin C deficiency and observational data.

Overall, the use of vitamin C in capillary weakness is scientifically justified, especially in individuals at risk for deficiency, but high-quality, randomized controlled trials in otherwise healthy populations are lacking. The evidence is moderate (3/5), based on its indispensable role in collagen formation and supportive, though not robust, clinical findings.

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