Deal with delicate capillaries by uncovering the
cause—bleeding beneath the skin may signal a serious condition. According to research or
other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:
- Seek support from C
- Consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider to find out if you
need to increase your vitamin C intake to prevent a deficiency associated with capillary
fragility
- Get to know proanthocyanidins
- Increase capillary strength by taking 150 mg a day of these
powerful plant nutrients
- Go for a checkup
- Visit your healthcare provider to find out whether your capillary
fragility is the result of a treatable medical problem
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace
the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full capillary fragility article
for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and
lifestyle changes that may be helpful.
About capillary fragility
When the smallest blood vessels, capillaries, become weak, a person has capillary
fragility.
There are no serious complications from having capillary fragility, but it may signify that
a more serious, underlying problem exists. Therefore, people should consult a physician if
there is bleeding in the skin.
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capillary fragility
What are the symptoms?
Weak capillaries lead to small spots of bleeding in the skin and easy bruising. Bruises look like areas of blue to
purple-colored skin that can turn yellow to dark brown over the course of a few days.
Medical options
The primary focus in the treatment of capillary fragility is the diagnosis and management
of any underlying medical condition. Conditions such as liver or kidney disease; blood
disorders, such as hemophilia, platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, leukemia, and multiple
myeloma; connective tissue disorders including scurvy, Marfan’s syndrome, and
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; or the use of blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin (Bayer®, Ecotrin®, Bufferin®)
and warfarin (Coumadin®), should be
considered.
Dietary changes that may be helpful
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables will provide more of the nutrients
mentioned in the Nutritional supplements information below that support the structure of
capillaries.
Vitamins that may be helpful
Severe vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) is a
well-recognized but uncommon cause of increased capillary fragility. Whether vitamin C
supplementation can help capillary fragility in people who do not have scurvy is less clear.
Patients undergoing dialysis may develop low levels of vitamin C,1 2
which can lead to capillary fragility, but giving dialysis patients 50 mg of vitamin C per day
had no effect on capillary fragility in one study.3 People with kidney failure and
those undergoing dialysis should not supplement with more than 100 mg per day, unless
supervised by a doctor.
According to preliminary studies, vitamin C may reduce capillary weakness in diabetics, who often have low blood levels of vitamin
C compared to non-diabetics.4 5 In a double-blind trial, elderly people
with low vitamin C levels and capillary fragility were helped with supplementation of one gram
per day of vitamin C.6
Compounds called flavonoids may help
strengthen weakened capillaries. In test tube and animal studies, they have been shown to
protect collagen, one of the most important components of capillary walls.7
8 A preliminary study found that
proanthocyanidins (flavonoids extracted from grape seeds), 150 mg per day, increased
capillary strength in people with hypertension
and/or diabetes.9 A double-blind
trial found a combination of two flavonoids (900 mg per day of diosmin and 100 mg per day
hesperidin) for six weeks reduced symptoms of capillary fragility.10 Use of vitamin
C with flavonoids, particularly quercetin,
rutin, and hesperidin, is sometimes recommended for capillary fragility.11 Doctors
often recommend 400 mg of rutin or quercetin three times per day or 1 gram of citrus
flavonoids three times per day.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
References:1. Bradley DW, Maynard JE, Webster H. Plasma and whole blood
concentrations of ascorbic acid in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Am J Clin
Pathol 1973;60:145–7.
2. Sullivan JF, Eisenstein AB. Ascorbic acid depletion during
hemodialysis. JAMA 1972;220:1697–9.
3. Tomson CR, Channon SM, Parkinson IS. Correction of subclinical
ascorbate deficiency in patients receiving dialysis: effects on plasma oxalate, serum
cholesterol, and capillary fragility. Clin Chim Acta 1989;180:255–64.
4. Cox BD, Butterfield WJ. Vitamin C supplements and diabetic cutaneous
capillary fragility. Br Med J 1975;3:205.
5. Will JC, Byers T. Does diabetes mellitus increase the requirement for
vitamin C? Nutr Rev 1996;54:193–202 [review].
6. Schorah CJ, Tormey WP, Brooks GH, et al. The effect of vitamin C
supplements on body weight, serum proteins, and general health of an elderly population.
Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:871–6.
7. Schlebusch H, Kern D. Stabilization of collagen by polyphenols.
Angiologica 1972;9:248–56 [in German].
8. Monboisse J, Braquet P, Randoux A, Borel J. Non-enzymatic degradation
of acid-soluble calf skin collagen by superoxide ion: protective effect of flavonoids.
Biochem Pharmacol 1983;32:53–8.
9. Lagrue G, Olivier-Martin F, Grillot A. A study of the effects of
procyanidol oligomers on capillary resistance in hypertension and in certain nephropathies.
Sem Hop 1981;57:1399–401 [in French].
10. Galley P, Thiollet M. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a
new veno-active flavonoid fraction (S 5682) in the treatment of symptomatic capillary
fragility. Int Angiol 1993;12:69–72.
11. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants.
Andover: Intercept Ltd., 1995, 277.