Nutrition experts from the University of California, Berkeley, conducted research indicating that vitamin C reduces oxidative stress for those exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke, decreasing the likelihood of atherosclerosis - a disease affecting the arterial blood vessels – as well as heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.

The study was published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, and was funded by the University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program. The National Cancer Institute also supported the research.

The study based its findings upon the theory that vitamin C can reduce oxidative stress. Cigarette smoke contains free radicals, which can cause damage to cells. Many studies have been done successfully, measuring the effect of vitamin C on smokers, but there are few studies that look at the effects of vitamin C on those who are consistently breathing second-hand smoke.

The researchers studied 67 nonsmokers, split into three groups. The first group took 500 milligrams of vitamin C daily and the second group took a mixture of vitamins C and E, along with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. The third group was given placebo capsules.

All those participating had stopped taking vitamins five weeks prior and were chosen because they were exposed to indoor cigarette smoke on a daily basis of at least one cigarette per day and they did not consume large amounts of fruits, vegetables or alcohol, which would influence oxidative stress levels.

In the study, the researchers tested for F2-Isoprostanes, generated through a form of oxidative stress called lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation can lead to damage of the cell membrane.

After two months of taking vitamin C, a practically a household name among the various antioxidants, blood levels of F2-Isoprostanes dropped considerably.

Compared with the group taking the placebo, the vitamin C group saw an 11.4 percent decrease in F2-Isoprostanes levels, while those taking the vitamin C, E and antioxidants mixture saw a 12.7 percent drop. Since there was not a sizable difference in the two groups taking the vitamins, the researchers agreed that vitamin C was the key ingredient.

They also found that ascorbic acid levels in the blood increased significantly - 32 percent in the vitamin C group and 41 percent in the mixture group.

The study is raising the eyebrows of the health community and although they are not saying that taking daily vitamin C will prevent chronic diseases, they are very hopeful that vitamin C supplements will reduce the amount of smoke related diseases for those who are forced to deal with second hand smoke.

The author of this article is Tim Moore, writing for Vitamins Stuff, a site that offers information on Vitamins and Alternative Medicine.