Vitamin C and Eye-Itch

A recent study in Journal of the American College of Nutrition examined the effect of vitamin C on blood histamine levels when administered at a daily dose of 2 grams.   Blood histamine levels dropped 40% in the people taking vitamin C when compared to people taking a placebo sugar pill.

Histamines are the chemicals responsible for eye irritation and itching. When you rub your eyes, the response is for the conjunctiva of the eye to release more histamines.   This is why eye-rubbing is not recommended; it can make the itching worse.   This study suggests that vitamin C in the diet may help to reduce blood histamine and does not discuss the reduction of eye histamines; studies need to be done to determine if vitamin C also lowers eye-histamine.  If so, this may be a new treatment for eye itchiness and allergic symptoms.