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Condition

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

POTS is a form of dysautonomia in which the autonomic nervous system doesn't steady heart rate and blood vessel tone on standing, leaving people lightheaded, tired, foggy, or faint. The evidence is strongest for sodium, which helps expand blood volume, and moderate for vitamin D and iron, whose deficiencies are common in POTS. In four small vitamin C studies, blood flow went up, but they included only 19 people, so that evidence is limited.

Sources: PMID 21552645; PMID 22153532

Supplements studied
1
Graded outcomes
1
Trials
1
People studied
19

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

1 supplement

Vitamin C

Vitamin C: outcomes studied for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Flow

Small Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect4 studies19 people

Studies that measured blood flow

and 1 more on the Vitamin C page

MicrocirculationImproves (the measure goes up)1 study19 people

Studies that measured microcirculation

Key findings

  • Blood FlowVitamin CImproves (the measure goes up)

The Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Supportive Care protocol

2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements

  • Electrolytes (Sodium)3–10 g sodium daily (from salt tablets or high-sodium foods) with 2–3 L fluids
  • Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (target 40–60 ng/mL)

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

Fullscript collectionHeart and circulation: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

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Studies cited

5 studies from PubMed

  1. Ascorbate improves circulation in postural tachycardia syndromeAm J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol · PMID 21622825
  2. Oral administration of ascorbic acid attenuates endothelial dysfunction after short-term cigarette smokingInt J Vitam Nutr Res · PMID 14743545
  3. Pretreatment with intravenous ascorbic acid preserves endothelial function during acute hyperglycaemia (R1)Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol · PMID 15854139
  4. Vitamin C restores blood pressure and vasodilator response during mental stress in obese childrenArq Bras Cardiol · PMID 21552645
  5. Ascorbic acid prevents vascular dysfunction induced by oral glucose load in healthy subjectsEur J Intern Med · PMID 22153532

Supplement stack for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome (POTS)