The Effect of Vitamin C on Histamine and Dust Mite Epicutaneous Test Responses: A Randomized Control Trial

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 6 - 11, 20.04.2025

Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Azhar Husna Hasri Sze Ying Tan Divaharan Subramanie Anasuhah Musa Farah Dayana Zahedi Samirah Taufiq Abdul Wahid Norwahidah Abdul Karim Shamsul Azhar Shah Aneeza W Hamizan Salina Husain

Abstract

Objective: Vitamin C has antihistamine properties, but its e!ect on allergic skin responses is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the e!ect of vitamin C on skin wheal reactions to exogenous histamine and a known allergen during skin prick tests (SPTs).
Methods: In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, adults with allergic rhinitis and known positive SPT toward house dust mites were randomized into 2 groups: the intervention group received vitamin C (1000 mg daily for 7 days) and the control group kept a diet journal only. Repeat testing was conducted on day 8, and wheal sizes were measured using Image J software. Mean di!erences in wheal area (mm") between groups were compared, and treatment e!ect sizes within groups were calculated using Cohen’s d formula.
Results: Of 103 participants, 44 in the vitamin C group and 45 in the control group completed the study. Vitamin C led to a small, non-signi#cant reduction in histamine-induced wheal size (!2.5 ± 11.57 mm", Cohen’s d = 0.30 vs. !0.92 ± 14.24 mm", P = .56, Cohen’s d = 0.08), but no reduction was seen for dust mite allergens (+4.48 ± 25.08 mm", Cohen’s d = !0.20 vs. !0.16 ± 26.17 mm", Cohen’s d = 0.01, P = .40).
Conclusion: Short-term vitamin C supplementation had a minor, non-signi#cant suppressing e!ect on exogenous histamine but did not attenuate the skin allergen responses. Vitamin C may be useful for histamine intolerance, but this requires larger studies.

Keywords

Ascorbic acid , vitamins , histamine antagonists , rhinitis , allergic , histamine , hypersensitivity

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