Top 20 vitamin C foods that can boost immunity and fight disease
Rachel Link MS. RD
There are few vitamins that can boost as many health benefits as vitamin C. Vitamin C has a huge impact on health from the inside out. It is an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant. In fact, vitamin C works to improve everything from skin health to immune function and everything in between. Because your body doesn’t store vitamin C or make it on its own, it’s absolutely vital to include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. There are some “Superfoods” that are essential to include in your diet, according to the USDA national nutrient database. Supplementation of vitamin C, including a good variety of foods with vitamin C can help you easily meet your daily needs.
http://draxe.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-foods/
Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview
Shailja Chambial, Shailendra Dwivedi, Kamla Kant Shukla, Placheril J, John, and Praveen Sharma.
Vitamin C is essential for the development and maintenance of connective tissues. It plays an important role in bone formation, wound healing, and the maintenance of healing gums. Our bodies require vitamin C for normal physiological functions. It helps in the synthesis and metabolism of tyrosine. Vitamin C is found in many fruits such as: green/red peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, etc. A study showed that maximum tensile strength of scar tissue in guinea pigs was achieved after supplementation of vitamin C. Another study showed that a high-dose of vitamin C improved the survival of patients with terminal cancer. In the study 10.3% of patients given vitamin C survived terminal cancer, while all those without it died. This is because studies have observed that different types of cancer cells do not grow high vitamin C concentration. Oral supplementation of vitamin C with antipsychotic reverses AA levels, reduces oxidative stress, and improves BPRS score. Overall there is a large body of evidence supporting that maintaining a healthy vitamin C level can have a protective function against age related cognitive decline. Avoiding vitamin C deficiency is likely to be more beneficial than taking supplements on top of normal healthy diet.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC378921/
Intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of allergies
Claudia Vollbracht, Martin Raithel, Bianka Krick, Karin Krick, and Alexander F. Hagel
Oxidative stress appears to be a key factor in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and a potential therapeutic target in allergy treatment. An observational study was conducted to investigate the change in disease-specific and nonspecific symptoms. During adjuvant treatment with intravenous vitamin C in 71 patients with allergy- related respiratory or cutaneous indication. The result was those who took vitamin C reduced allergy- related symptoms. The percentage of patients with an improvement in the symptoms sum score showed no meaningful difference between patients with and without allergy-related medication besides vitamin C. It is noted that iv vitamin C had a greater effect on chronic nonspecific symptoms than on acute nonspecific symptoms, with nearly 100% greater sum score reduction. In conclusion, preclinical and clinical data indicate that the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation by vitamin C can be beneficial in patients with allergic diseases.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6136002/
The Efficacy and Safety of Vitamin C for iron Supplementation in Adult Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Random Clinical Trial
Nianyi Li, Guangjie Zhao, Wanling Wu, Mengxue Zhang, Weiyang Liu, Qinfen Chen, Xiaoqin Wang
An open lab with adult patients was conducted from 2016-2018. With newly diagnosed IDA were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to an oral iron supplements plus vitamin C group or only iron supplements. These patients randomly received a 100 mg oral iron tablet plus 200 mg of vitamin C or 100-mg iron tablets alone. They took this every 8 hours for 3 months. The results suggested that on-demand vitamin C supplements are not essential to take along with oral iron supplements for patients with IDA.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.gov/33136134/
Vitamin C and functional iron deficiency anemia hemodialysis
Yong-Lim Kim
Functional iron deficiency (FID), is found in about 20% of dialysis patients. FID in patients was vaguely known to be caused by chronic inflammatory status and kidney dysfunction. It was shown in 1995 that in dialysis patients receiving transfusion, intravenous vitamin C improved the Armenia status which worsened after discontinuation of vitamin C. In dialysis patients, dietary intake of vitamin C gets easily insufficient. It is necessary to have a further large-scale, prospective, randomized clinical trial on the long-term safety and efficiency of vitamin C as an adjuvant therapy for anemia.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4715087/
Dual action of vitamin C in iron supplement therapeutics for iron deficiency anemia: prevention of liver damage induced by iron overload
Huan He, Yang Qiao, Zeyu Zhang Wu, Dan Liu, Zhangping Liao, Dong Yin, Ming He
Vitamin C aids in increasing absorbable ferrous iron in iron deficiency anemia. It is an excellent reducing agent and an efficient antioxidant. In the study, there were 48 mice randomly divided into a control group. The study investigated the productive effects of vitamin C against liver damage by assessing the liver weight to body ratio. It was found that vitamin C significantly attenuated impaired liver function in mice induced by iron overload via antioxidation. The results showed that vitamin C helps prevent iron deficiency and liver damage, due to excessive iron intake during treatment.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.gov/30272083/
Vitamin C deficiency: rare cause of severe anemia with hemolysis
Hira Sheikh, Muhammad Salman Salman Faisal, Prerna Mewawalla
Scurvy is a rare nutritional deficiency that has been around since the seventeenth century. There is a case of a 39-year-old alcoholic male, who presented with progressive fatigue and diffuse purpuric rash with scattered ecchymosis for 2 months. He was found to have hemolysis on lab work. His vitamin C levels were checked, which interestingly resulted as 0 mg/Dl. Hemoglobin improved to 15 g/dl in 4 weeks, with normalization of vitamin C level.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nih.gov/30666502/
Interaction of vitamin C and iron
S R Lynch, J D Cook
Food iron is absorbed by the intestinal mucosa from two separate pools of heme and nonheme iron. Heme iron is well absorbed and relatively little affected by other foods eaten in the same meal. The absorption of nonheme iron is greatly influenced by meal composition. The enhancement of iron absorption from vegetable meals is directly proportional to the quantity of ascorbic acid present. The absorption of soluble inorganic iron added to a meal increases in parallel with the absorption of nonheme iron. High cost and Instability during food storage are the major obstacles to using ascorbic acid in programs designed to combat nutritional iron deficiency anemia.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6940487/
Vitamin C status and blood pressure
A R Ness, K T Khaw, S Bingham, N E Day
A study was conducted with 835 men and 1025 women ages 45-75, who were registered with general practices in Norfolk. The study measured diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and plasma vitamin C level. The difference in SBP and in DBP for a 50 mmol/l difference in vitamin C, estimated using linear regression, were -3.6 and -2.6 mmhg. These results indicated that a high intake of vitamin C from food confers protection against raised blood pressure and strokes.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8761901/
Effects of vitamin C supplementation on essential hypertension: a systematic review and metaanalysis
Yuanyuan Guan, Pengju Dai, Hongwu Wang
Vitamin C is a supplement to treat hypertension. It remains controversial whether vitamin C can improve blood pressure in patients with primary hypertension. The objective is to analyze whether the effect of vitamin C supplementation on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. In a study Eight RCTs involving 614 participants were analyzed. SBP and DBP before and after VitC supplementation were compared between intervention and control groups. VitC supplementation resulted in a significant reduction of patients with essential hypertension.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32080138/
Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Stephen P Juraschek, Eliseo Guallar, Lawrence J Appel, Edgar R Miller
In observational studies, increased vitamin C intake, vitamin C supplementation, and higher blood concentration of vitamin C are associated with lower Blood pressure. The objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials that examined the effects of vitamin C supplementation on BP. There was research for Medline, EMBASE, and Central database from 1966 to 2011. Twenty-nine trials met eligibility criteria for the primary analysis. After inclusion of 9 trials with imputed BP effects, BP effects were attenuated but remained significant. In short-term trials, vitamin C supplementation reduced SBP and DBP. Long-term trials on the effects of vitamin C supplementation on BP and clinical events are needed.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22492364/
Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure and hypertension control in response to ambient temperature changes in patients with essential hypertension
Xiaojie Yuan, Xiaochun Li, Zhaohua Ji, Jing Xiao, Lei Zhang, Weilu Zhang, Haixiao Su, Kanakaraju Kaliannan, Yong Long, Zhongjun Shao
Limited studies have examined the effect of Vitamin C (VC) supplementation on hypertension (HTN) control. In this study, eligible patients were cluster assigned to receive 300 mg VC per day or nothing for 6 months. During these 6 months blood pressure measurements were performed on all subjects. Oral administration of VC significantly decreased the diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure with significant increase in HTN control. The results warrant further studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the association between VC and HTN control.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30183398/
Vitamin C as a Modulator of the Response to Cancer Therapy
Wiktoria Błaszczak, Wojciech Barczak, Julia Masternak, Przemysław Kopczyński, Anatoly Zhitkovich, and Blaze Rubis
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been gaining attention as a potential treatment for human malignancies. Ascorbate has potential to affect other aspects of cancer cell metabolism. The potential use of intravenous ascorbic acid (AA) as a complementary agent in cancer treatment has been studied since the 1970’s. At physiological level vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, its therapeutic effectiveness at pharmacological doses in some cases to be linked to pro-oxidant effects ultimately promoting cancer cell death. Recent clinical trials showed that intravenous vitamin C was safe in cancer patients, producing minimal side effects. High-dose intravenous vitamin C administration in cancer patients has led to increased quality of life, as well as improvements in physical, mental, and emotional functions. Vitamin C exerts beneficial effects in cancer treatment through more than one mechanism, some of which are linked to the metabolism of transformed cells whereas others may involve direct interactions with specific drugs.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/article/PMC6384696/
Targeting cancer vulnerabilities with high-dose vitamin C
Bryan Ngo, Justin Van Riper, Lewis C. Cantley, and Jihye Yun
Studies have shown that pharmacological vitamin C targets many of the mechanisms of cancer treatments. There are approximately a dozen ongoing clinical trials exploring the safety and efficacy of intravenous high-dose vitamin C for treating various types of cancer as a monotherapy or combination therapy. Over the past decades, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that millimolar concentration of pharmacological vitamin C can kill cancer cells in vitro and slow tumorr growth in vivo. High-dose vitamin C should not be viewed as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ modality for cancer treatment. Understanding the critical differences between oral and intravenous ascorbate administration routes and knowing which patients to treat will be critical for clinical trial designs and approval of new ascorbate therapies. It is now widely accepted that the millimolar concentration of ascorbate needed to induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells can be achieved only when administered intravenously. For example, a phase clinical study revealed that ascorbate concentrations could safely reach 25-30 mM with intravenous infusion of 100g of vitamin C. In conclusion, high-dose intravenous ascorbate represents a promising and inexpensive anticancer therapeutic option that should be further explored in clinical trials. Current preclinical and early phase I/II clinical trial results suggest that Linus Pauling’s claims regarding the therapeutic benefits of vitamin C therapy in cancer may not be so outrageous at all.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6526932/
Pro- and Antioxidant Effects of Vitamin C in Cancer in correspondence to its Dietary and Pharmacological Concentration
Elżbieta Pawłowska, joanna Szczepanska, and Janusz Błasiak
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that may scavenge reactive oxygen species preventing DNA damage and other effects important in cancer transformation. Pharmacological doses of vitamin C may inhibit cancer transformation in several pathways, but further studies are needed to address both mechanistic and clinical aspects of this effect. Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient that must be delivered either with diet or as a supplement as humans lost the ability to synthesize it due to mutation in the gene encoding a terminal enzyme in the vitamin C biosynthetic pathway. Many functions of vitamin C in the mobilization of the immune system against cancer relate to its regulation of the epigenetic of immune cells. Anticancer therapy can be applied with many compounds, and it is not surprising that the interaction of vitamin C with some of them results in a negative therapeutic outcome.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6942884/
The Effects of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) in the Treatment of Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review
Gwendolyn N.Y. van Gorkom, Eline L. Lookermans, Catharina H.M.J Van Elssen, and Gerald M.J Bos
Many cancer patients on intensive chemotherapy lack vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates the production and activation of immune cells, so perhaps supplementation could be used to improve the immunity in those patients. Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient that plays an important role in numerous physiological processes in the human body. In physiological concentrations, it also functions as an antioxidant. It is shown in preclinical studies that vitamin C has an important role in the immune system, as it stimulates the production and/or activation of immune cells, like natural killer cells, that have a function in fighting against pathogens and cancer cells. Treatment with vitamin C is likely to be safe, with almost no serious adverse events and minimal mild side effects, even with high doses of intravenous supplementation. It is safe to examine vitamin C supplementation further in a randomized controlled setting. Therefore, we are planning to investigate the effects of vitamin C supplementation on immune recovery in patients that receive intensive chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplantation.
http:www.ncbi.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6566697/
Therapeutic Use of Vitamin C in Cancer
Francisco J. Roa, Eduardo Pena, Marcell Gatica, Kathleen Escobar-Acuna, Paulina Saavedra, Mafalda Maldonado, Magdalena E Cuevas, Gustavo Mirage-cid, Corakua l. Rivas, and Carola Munoz-Montesino
Since the early 1950’s, vitamin C has been proposed as a candidate for the treatment of cancer. A number of reports have shown that pharmacological concentrations of vitamin C selectively kill cancer cells in vitro and decrease the growth rate of a number of human tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for humans, acting as an antioxidant and a cofactor for several enzymatic reactions. Humans, unlike most mammalian species, are unable to synthesize vitamin C, hence it is an essential dietary component and humans need to acquire this vitamin from external sources, such as vegetables and fruits. Different studies have proposed that SVCT2 has a major function in tumours. In conclusion, the knowledge on the capacities of cancer cells in acquiring and compartmentalizing vitamin C is crucial and has direct implications for rational development of vitamin C intervention procedures in human cancer.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7063061/
Vitamin C, Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Fiammetta Monacelli, Erica Acquarone, Chiara Giannotti, Roberta Borghi, and Alessio Nencioni
Ascorbic acid (AA) has been shown to epigenetically regulate genome integrity and stability, indicating a key role of targeted nutrition in healthy aging. Ascorbic acid is a powerful first-line antioxidant that mediates several beneficial effects on redox oxidative pathways and mitochondrial pathways on the immune system. All of the physiological and biochemical actions of AA are due to its ability to donate electrons (as a reducing agent). At physiological concentration, AA is a scavenger of free radicals in plasm and different tissues, including the central nervous system. AA was also reported to stimulate/inhibit the differentiation of mesoderm-derived embryonic stem cells. From a clinical perspective, AA functions at a true interface between aging, life span and age-related diseases. It is able to modulate telomerase activity, bioenergetics, DNA repair and oxidative stress, indicating a nutrigenomic role in the process of aging as well. Recently, it has been shown that AA release mediated by neurons is linked to glutamate metabolism and kinetics in the brian. Thus, all of these lines of research could improve the understanding of the role of AA in brain aging and, hopefully, provide a new conceptual framework for Alzheimer disease in the near future.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5537785/
Does Vitamin C Deficiency Affect Cognitive Development and Function?
Stine Normann Hansen, Pernille Tveden-Nyborg, and Jens Lykkesfeldt
Vitamin C is a pivotal antioxidant in the brain and has been reported to have numerous functions including reactive oxygen species scavenging, neuromodulation, and involvement in angiogenesis. Increasing evidence is pointing to vitamin C as an important redox hemostatic factor in the central nervous system. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin contributing as electron donor in several important biological reactions in the body. Controlled experimental animal studies support vitamin C as a key factor in the prevention of cognitive decline following both aging associated alteration as well as neurodegenerative disorders. Data also supports a direct effect of vitamin C deficiency on brain function particularly during development and/or regeneration following traumatic brain injury such as ischemic insults. Randomized controlled trials using Vitamin C as a single substance are required to elaborate on whether findings from experimental models translate into effects in humans.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4179190
Vitamin C Status and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
Nikolaj Travica, Karin Ried, Avni Sali, Andrew Scholey, Irene Hudson, and Andrew Pipingas
Vitamin C plays a role in neuronal differentiation, maturation, myelin formation and modulation of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic, and glutaminergic systems. Vitamin C is essential for the formation of procallegen which then acts as an intracellular “glue” that gives support, shape and bulk to blood vessels. Studies included in a systematic review demonstrated higher mean vitamin C concentrations in the cognitively intact groups of participants compared to the impaired groups. No correlation was found between vitamin C concentration and MMSe scores in the cognitively impaired groups of participants. Qualitative assessment in the cognitively intact groups revealed a potential association between plasma vitamin C concentration and cognition.
Vitamin C Status and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review
Nikolaj Travica, Karin Ried, Avni Sali, Andrew Scholey, Irene Hudson, and Andrew Pipingas
Vitamin C plays a role in neuronal differentiation, maturation, myelin formation and modulation of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic, and glutaminergic systems. Vitamin C is essential for the formation of procallegen which then acts as an intracellular “glue” that gives support, shape and bulk to blood vessels. Studies included in a systematic review demonstrated higher mean vitamin C concentrations in the cognitively intact groups of participants compared to the impaired groups. No correlation was found between vitamin C concentration and MMSe scores in the cognitively impaired groups of participants. Qualitative assessment in the cognitively intact groups revealed a potential association between plasma vitamin C concentration and cognition.
Vitamin C intake reduces the cytotoxicity associated with hyperglycemia in pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes
Silvia Isabel Rech Franke, Luiza Louzada Muller, Maria Carolina Santos, Arcenio Fishborn, Liziane Hermes, Patricia Molz, Camila Schreiner Pereira, Francisca Maria Assmann Wichmann, Jorge Andre Horta, Sharbel Weidner Maluf, and Daniel Pra
Free radicals and advanced glycation end-products are formed as a result of hyperglycemia (AGEs). Protein glycation and DNA damage can both be reduced by antioxidants. We compared the amounts of vitamin C consumption, which is one of the most abundant antioxidants gained from diet, in this study. Our results indicated that there was no significant correlation between FPG or A1C and DNA damage parameters. Clinical trials to assess the benefit of low-dose vitamin C supplementation in type 2 diabetes are needed, according to the current findings.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.noh.gov/23984417/
Dietary Vitamin C intake Reduces the Risk of type 2 Diabetes in Chinese Adults: HOMA-IR and T-AOC as Potential Mediators
Chungling Zhou, Lixin Na, Ruiqi Shan, Yu Cheng, Ying Li, Xiaoyan Wu, and Changhao Sun
Oxidative stress may have a role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by developing insulin resistance or affecting insulin production, according to mounting evidence. When vitamin C intake is greater than 140 mg per day, the risk of diabetes is considered to be less than 5%. Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant because it can protect other substances from being oxidized by giving electrons. In conclusion, the findings of this study imply that dietary vitamin C consumption may protect against the development of T2D. This link might be broken by reducing or eliminating oxidative damage and insulin resistance. The results of this study contribute to the little evidence on the relationship between vitamin C consumption and the risk of T2D in non-Western cultures.
The effects of vitamin C and/or E supplementations on type 2 diabletic adult males under metformin treatment: A single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial
Ali Abd El-Aal, Eman A Abd El-Ghffar, Asmaa Abu Ghali, Mohammed R Zughbur, Mahmoud M Sirdah
The impact of antioxidant vitamins on the effectiveness of oral hypoglycemic treatment in type 2 diabetes patients has recently piqued researchers’ curiosity (T2DM). Forty T2DM male patients aged 40-60 years who were taking metformin were randomly assigned to one of four groups, each of which got an extra daily oral supplement for 90 days: Vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin C plus vitamin E. Vitamin C and/or E enhance fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, lipid profile, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, according to the findings. This study added to the growing body of data supporting the benefits of antioxidant vitamin supplementation in people with T2DM, which may help to improve clinical outcomes and delay or avoid diabetes pathogenesis and consequences.
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29571976/
Diabetes mellitus is controlled by vitamin C treatment
M Kodama, T Kodama, M Murakami, M Kodama
The goal of this study was to see if giving a diabetic patient vitamin C may help them regulate their diabetes by boosting their insulin mechanism. In a preliminary experiment, we looked at the relationship between glucose, insulin, and vitamin C in the plasma of a non-diabetic male volunteer who received vitamin C intravenously, either as an injection or as an infusion, with or without glucose. In three diabetic patients, vitamin C infusion therapy resulted in clinical improvements. In all patients, DM management was initiated using a combination of vitamin C infusion and insulin injection therapy.
Effects of vitamin C on blood glucose, serum lipids and serum insulin in type 2 diabetes patients
Mohammad Afkhami-Ardekani, Ahmad Shojaoddiny-Ardekani
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition that can lead to both micro- and macro-vascular problems. Because vitamin C has been shown to improve serum lipids and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), we studied how different dosages of vitamin C affected blood glucose, serum lipids, and serum insulin in people with type 2 diabetes. The study comprised 84 individuals with type 2 diabetes who were referred to the Yazd Diabetes Research Center in Iran. They received randomly either 500 mg or 1000 mg daily of vitamin C for six weeks. The group supplied with 1000 mg vitamin C saw a substantial decrease in FBS, TG, LDL, HbA1c, and serum insulin. The dosage of 500 mg vitamin C, on the other hand, had no effect on any of the measures evaluated.
Vitamin C and immunity: an assessment of the evidence
W R Thomas and P G Holt
The high quantity of ascorbate in leukocytes, as well as its fast depletion during infection and phagocytosis, implies that the vitamin has a function in the immune system. Its impact on antibody production and complement levels is debatable, though it is most likely insignificant. This study implies that more research into the effect of ascorbate on immunity, particularly in defined groups, is warranted, but warns against the use of megadose treatment.
Ascorbic acid: its role in immune system and chronic inflammation diseases
Angela Sorice, Eliana Guerriero, Francesca, Giovanni Colonna, Susan Costantini
Ascorbic acid (AA), often known as vitamin C, was first shown to play a role in avoiding scurvy and has since gained popularity for its antioxidant effects. All stressful circumstances associated with inflammatory processes and involving immunity require AA. Ascorbic acid is required to activate the immune system by improving the organism’s strength and defense. We may infer that AA is ideal for application in a variety of medical domains, including immunology, toxicology, radiobiology, and others, due to its effects and diversity of regulated pathways. Future study should examine new combinations of antioxidant natural compounds and medicines, according to our proposal.
[Vitamin C and Immune function]
Alexander Strohle, Andrea Hahn
Nutrient consumption has a significant impact on the immune system. There has long been debate about whether vitamin C can aid in the prevention and treatment of the common cold. A lack of vitamin C reduces resistance to specific infections, but a larger supply improves numerous immune system characteristics. Vitamin C supplementation is particularly beneficial in conditions of physical strain or inadequate vitamin C consumption. The administration of vitamin C alone has no therapeutic impact in the treatment of the common cold.
Immune -enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions
Eva S Wintergerst, Silvia Maggini, Dietrich H Hornig
During infections and stress, vitamin C levels in the plasma and leukocytes drop dramatically. Vitamin C helps cells retain their redox integrity, protecting them from reactive oxygen species produced during the respiratory burst and the inflammatory response. Both zinc and vitamin c aid immune function and modulate host resistance to infectious agents, lowering the risk, severity, and duration of infectious illnesses. Both nutrients reduce the severity of respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold, and help to decrease their duration. Furthermore, vitamin C and zinc lower the occurrence of pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea infections, especially in children in underdeveloped countries, and improve their outcomes.
Vitamin C and Immune Function
Anitra C Carr, and Silvia Maggini
Vitamin C is a necessary vitamin for humans, and its capacity to transfer electrons has pleiotropic effects. Vitamin C aids immune protection by supporting both the innate and adaptive immune systems’ cellular functioning. Vitamin C protects the epithelial barrier function against infections and enhances the skin’s oxidant scavenging capacity, perhaps defending against oxidative stress from the environment. Vitamin C is a necessary substance that humans are unable to produce owing to the lack of a crucial enzyme in the biosynthesis process. Vitamin C supplementation in the form of dietary or gram dosages has also been demonstrated to improve neutrophil chemotactic capacity in healthy individuals. Overall, vitamin C appears to have a wide range of favorable impacts on both the innate and adaptive immune systems’ biological functioning. By increasing numerous immune cell activities, vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Vitamin C deficiency is necessary for normal immune function and infection resistance.
Vitamin C supplementation for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
Lena Al-Khudairy, Nadine Flowers, Rebecca Wheelhouse, Obadah Ghannam, Louise Hartley, Saverio Strangers, and Karen Rees
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and vital vitamin. Vitamin C consumption has been found to have an inverse connection with major cardiovascular events and CVD risk variables in observational studies. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid or ascorbate) is an important vitamin that reduces oxidative stress by acting as a potent water soluble antioxidant. There is currently no evidence that supplementing with vitamin C decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Future studies should look at the effects of vitamin C supplementation on type 2 diabetes and employ validated quality-of-life indicators. So far, there is only a little amount of information on the impact of vitamin C supplementation on CVD risk factors.
Vitamin C and cardiovascular disease: a review
J A Simon
In the guinea pig, vitamin C acts as a regulator of cholesterol catabolism to bile acids, and it has been shown to be a significant element in lipid control in the guinea pig, rabbit, and rat. Vitamin C consumption and cardiovascular disease mortality have been proven to be inversely related in human correlation studies. Men, the elderly, smokers, diabetics, hypertensives, and maybe oral estrogen-containing contraception users all had decreased plasma vitamin C levels, according to research. The link between vitamin C and cardiovascular disease has to be investigated further.
Vitamin C and Heart Health: A Review Based on Findings from Epidemiologic Studies
Melissa A. Moser and Ock K. Chun
Vitamin C is a potent dietary antioxidant that has gotten a lot of press in recent years for its potential involvement in heart health. Vitamin C administered in doses greater than the bare minimum necessary to prevent traditionally defined deficiency has been linked to cardiac benefits in studies. Some research has connected vitamin C to improved lipid profiles, vascular stiffness, and endothelial function. increased consumption of fruits and vegetables from less than three to more than five servings per day was related to a 17 percent reduction in CHD risk. Various other activities of vitamin C might support the idea that it might lower cardiovascular risk. Vitamin C, for example, has been demonstrated to decrease monocyte adherence to the endothelium. Vitamin C has also been proven to boost endothelial nitric oxide production, which leads to increased vasodilation and lower blood pressure.
Vitamin C and risk of death from stroke and coronary heart disease in a cohort of elderly people
R. Gale, C. N. Martyn, P. D. Winter, and C. Cooper
The objective is to see if vitamin C status, as determined by dietary consumption and plasma ascorbic acid concentration, is linked to stroke and coronary heart disease mortality in adults aged 65 and up. When a geriatrician assessed 730 men and women, they had completed a seven-day dietary record and had no history or symptoms of stroke, cerebral arteriosclerosis, or coronary heart disease. Stroke mortality was higher among individuals with the lowest vitamin C levels. There was no link discovered between vitamin C deficiency and the risk of dying from coronary heart disease. Finally, vitamin C concentration, whether assessed by food consumption or plasma ascorbic acid concentration, is highly linked to the risk of mortality from stroke in the elderly, but not from coronary heart disease.
Vitamin C and risk of coronary heart disease in women
Stavroula K Osganian, Meir J Stampfer, Eric Rimm, Donna Spiegelman, Frank B Hu, JoAnn E Manson, Walter C Willett
The researchers wanted to see if there was a link between vitamin C consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women. Prospective studies evaluating the link between vitamin C consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease have yielded mixed results. Despite a conceivable mechanism, the absence of unambiguous evidence for a protective connection suggests that the link between vitamin C intake and CHD risk should be investigated further. Vitamin C supplementation was linked to a considerably decreased risk of coronary heart disease in multivariate models that controlled for age, smoking, and a range of other coronary risk variables. In conclusion, Vitamin C supplement users tend to have a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
Vitamin C Intake is Inversely Associated with Cardiovascular Mortality in a Cohort of Spanish Graduates: The SUN Project
Nerea Martín-Calvo and Miguel Ángel Martínez-González
Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that may be found naturally in some foods, added to others, and taken as a supplement. Humans, unlike other animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C, making it a vital nutritional component. Based on vitamin C’s antioxidant capability, researchers are increasingly interested in seeing if it might help prevent or delay cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other disorders in which oxidative stress plays a role. Total vitamin C consumption had a small link with calorie consumption (r = 0.33), but it had a strong link with total fiber consumption (r = 0.72), according to a research. Dietary vitamin C yielded similar outcomes. After controlling for many confounding variables, including adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, the highest tertile of total vitamin C consumption was linked with a substantially decreased risk of CVM, but not CVD.
Enhanced Anticancer Effect of Adding Magnesium to Vitamin C Therapy: Inhibition of Hormetic Response by SVCT-2 Activation
Sungrae Cho 1, Jin Sung Chae 2, Hocheol Shin 1, Yujeong Shin 3, Youngwook Kim 4, Eui-Joon Kil 1, Hee-Seong Byun 1, Sang-Ho Cho 1, Seyeon Park 3, Sukchan Lee 5, Chang-Hwan Yeom 6
Although ascorbic acid (vitamin C-AA) is an antioxidant, it also has a pro-oxidant characteristic that can destroy cancer cells at high quantities. Cancer cells with high levels of SVCT-2 expression were more susceptible to AA treatment than cancer cells with low levels of SVCT-2 expression. We wanted to see if giving magnesium supplements to cancer cells with low SVCT-2 expression but a hormetic response to AA would raise SVCT-2’s Vmax value, enabling more AA to accumulate. According to the findings, magnesium supplementation increased the anticancer impact of AA by decreasing the hormetic response at low doses. This study also found that AA treatment combined with magnesium supplementation was more successful than AA treatment alone in terms of anticancer therapy.
What Is Magnesium? Plus the Top 20 Magnesium-Rich Foods
From DNA synthesis to insulin metabolism, magnesium plays a critical part in nearly every biological activity. Low levels of this important mineral have even been linked to a slew of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, bone problems, and heart disease. Magnesium is a natural element and mineral that is one of the body’s electrolytes. Only around 1% of your body’s total magnesium is contained in the blood, while the rest is stored in your bones, muscles, and soft tissues. What are the benefits of magnesium? When it comes to sustaining good health, it’s one of the most crucial nutrients. Unless you have a deficit, aim to acquire as much magnesium from your diet as possible by eating magnesium-rich foods rather than taking supplements.
Magnesium Supplements: Benefits, Side Effects, and Dosage
Helen West
Magnesium is an essential element for your body’s normal functioning. Because your body cannot produce it. Magnesium is the body’s fourth most prevalent mineral, and it’s essential for normal functioning. Low magnesium levels have also been related to a range of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s been proven that taking a magnesium supplement and treating a deficit can improve one’s health. There’s a decreased chance of heart disease, as well as better blood pressure, mood, and blood sugar control. People with migraine who took a daily supplement containing 600 mg of magnesium had 42 percent fewer migraine attacks and the episodes were less strong, according to a 12-week research. Overall, Magnesium is a mineral that is necessary for your body to operate properly.
[Role of vitamin C in oxidative DNA damage]
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has strong antioxidant properties: it scavenges reactive oxygen species and thereby protects key biological macromolecules including DNA, proteins, and lipids from oxidative damage. Supplementing with vitamin C can help to reduce oxidative DNA damage. Vitamin C-rich foods (fruits and vegetables) appear to be more protective because they have a stronger effect on reducing oxidative DNA damage in human cells. Recent research suggests that vitamin C is more than simply an antioxidant; it also controls the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and DNA repair. The goal of this review is to give an overview of vitamin C’s function in oxidative DNA damage.
Genetic damage caused by miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine) in animals infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum without decreasing its antileishmanial activity
Patrícia Valéria Castelo-Branco,a Hugo José Alves,a Raissa Lacerda Pontes,a Vera Lucia Maciel-Silva,a,b and Silma Regina Ferreira Pereira
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by over 20 different Leishmania species that may be found in over a hundred different countries. Miltefosine damages DNA by oxidizing its nitrogenous bases, which is decreased by ascorbic acid due to its capacity to shield genetic material from the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ascorbic acid is a key antioxidant in the fight against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other oxidative stress-related illnesses. Ascorbic acid’s antioxidant ability to neutralize free radicals implies that it may be able to reduce oxidative DNA damage in mammalian cells. Ascorbic acid lowers the genetic damage caused by miltefosine without reducing its antileishmanial activity, according to our findings. Furthermore, the findings show that miltefosine can reduce the parasite load of L. infantum at lower levels than previously thought.
Genetic variation at the SLC23A1 locus is associated with circulating concentrations of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C): evidence from 5 independent studies with >15,000 participants
Nicholas J Timpson 1, Nita G Forouhi, Marie-Jo Brion, Roger M Harbord, Derek G Cook, Paul Johnson, Alex McConnachie, Richard W Morris, Santiago Rodriguez, Jian’an Luan, Shah Ebrahim, Sandosh Padmanabhan, Graham Watt, K Richard Bruckdorfer, Nicholas J Wareham, Peter H Whincup, Steve Chanock, Naveed Sattar, Debbie A Lawlor, George Davey Smith
L-ascorbic acid is a necessary component of the human diet and has been linked to a variety of chronic disorders, including cardiovascular outcomes. We wanted to see if there was a link between common polymorphism at the SLC23A1 gene locus and L-ascorbic acid concentrations in the blood. In a study, there were 15,087 participants to assess the relation between variation at SLC23A1 and circulating concentrations of L-ascorbic acid. Each extra uncommon allele was linked to a -5.98 micromol/L drop in circulating L-ascorbic acid concentrations, according to all investigations. This conclusion has ramifications for epidemiologic studies of the relationship between circulating L-ascorbic acid and health outcomes in general.
