Link between low Vitamin C levels and retinal bleeding

Scientists have highlighted an association between low Vitamin C levels and retinal bleeding.

The research, which was published in Nutrition Reviews, found that bleeding of the gums on gentle probing and retinal haemorrhaging were linked to low levels of Vitamin C in the blood.

When these study participants increased their Vitamin C uptake, this helped to reverse the bleeding issues.

The authors highlighted that retinal haemorrhaging and cerebral strokes are associated with increased gingival bleeding tendency.

“A default prescription of oral hygiene and other periodontal interventions to 'treat' microvascular pathologies, even if partially effective in reversing gingival bleeding as suggested in this meta-analysis, is risky because it does not address any potential morbidity and mortality associated with the systemic microvascular-related pathologies,” they emphasised.

The study drew from 15 trials involving 1140 predominantly healthy participants with measures of gingival bleeding tendency, and from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III of 8210 US residents with measures of retinal haemorrhaging.