Hypoxia–reoxygenation-induced mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in human endothelial cells are inhibited by vitamin C
Many people are unaware of this, but with a stroke or heart attack, the area that is initially deprived of oxygen is actually SMALLER than the area that ultimately dies off. This is because when a cell is starved for oxygen and that oxygen gets rapidly brought back, the cell is not prepared and mitochondrial damage occurs that can result in further cell death. So, patients in the middle of a heart attack or stroke are frequently given drugs like TPA in the hospital to dissolve out the clot that is blocking blood flow.
We know have much evidence in support of compounds like magnesium, CoQ10 and now vitamin C that can protect from repurfusion injury. While I do not know personally, I do not believe that giving high doses of these compounds by IV prior to repurfusion is being done on a regular basis. I’m just not sure if I would be in a position to convey my desire for these compounds prior to repurfusion should I ever end up in this situation. I would be a nice thing to have tattooed to my forearm, though…