• The researchers examined 880 men and 1,241 women in rural Japan, which were divided into four groups according to the level of vitamin C in their blood.

• Among the participants, 196 strokes occurred during a 20-year period beginning in 1977.

• "The risk of stroke was 70 percent higher among those in the lowest quarter than those in the highest," says Dr. Yokoyama.

When researchers examined strokes based on the number of days per week the participants ate fruits and vegetables, they found a similar relationship. The clearest association was for vegetable consumption.

"The risk of all types of stroke was 58 percent lower among those who consumed vegetables six to seven days per week, compared to those who only consumed them up to two days a week," notes Dr. Yokoyama.

The 196 strokes that occurred included:

• 109 cerebral infarctions - a stroke in which blood flow to the brain is blocked

• 54 hemorrhage strokes, which occur when an artery in the brain bursts

• 33 strokes which were of undetermined typed.

Because a risk reduction was observed in both types of stroke, Dr. Yokoyama says the responsible mechanism probably extends beyond vitamin C's known antioxidant effects.

• Cerebral infarctions are considered to be the result of atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in arteries. Antioxidants can prevent the buildup.

• Hemorrhagic stroke results from a ruptured blood vessel in the brain.

The researchers are preparing a database to analyze the association between blood levels of vitamin C and subsequent incidence of heart attack in the same population.

Stroke October, 2000; 31: 2287-94.

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Well folks, here we have it, further confirmation that it is the whole foods, NOT the supplements that provide the major benefit. Vitamin C is merely a marker for the hundreds, if not thousands of other nutrients available in whole foods. Most of these nutrients are as yet uncharacterized. Does this mean one should not take vitamin C? Absolutely not. But to use it as a substitute for whole foods and expect to get healthy is delusional. One must consume whole unprocessed foods to maximize health. Eating meat is not to difficult for most of us, but vegetables clearly are, and that is what most of us need more of. The diet I advocate is a clear step in the right direction and if you have not reviewed my vegetable juicing recommendations recently I would strongly recommend doing that as it is a simple way to increase the volume of vegetables. Related Articles: Vitamin E Supplements Reduce Stroke Risk Low Cholesterol Linked to Stroke Risk