Vitamin C and vitamin C plus E improve the immune function in the elderly
Abstract
With aging the immune response is impaired. This immunosenescence, in which an alteration of the redox state of the immune cells appears, is involved in the rate of aging. Since leukocyte function is a good marker of health and predictor of longevity, the effects of daily oral administration of the antioxidant vitamin C (500 mg), or both vitamin C (500 mg) and vitamin E (200 mg) on several blood neutrophil (adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and superoxide anion levels) and lymphocyte (adherence, chemotaxis, proliferation, interleukin-2 secretion and natural killer activity) functions were studied in healthy elderly men and women. These parameters were analysed before supplementation, after 3 months of supplementation, and 6 months after the end of supplementation. The results showed that vitamin C, in elderly participants, improved the immune functions studied which achieved values close to those of young adults. These effects were maintained in several functions after 6 months without supplementation. Similar effects were found in the elderly supplemented with both vitamin C and E. Thus, a short period of vitamin C or vitamin C and E ingestion, with the doses used, improves the immune function in elderly men and women and could contribute to a healthy longevity.
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Continuous intake of vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, can effectively improve the function of immune cells in the elderly, such as chemotaxis and phagocytosis of neutrophils.
“The continuous intake of vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, can effectively improve the function of immune cells in the elderly, Such as the chemotaxis and phagocytosis of neutrophils.327”
From Inflammation and aging: signaling pathways and intervention therapies (2023) · cites this paper as [327]
Decreased concentrations of vitamin C in immune cells, such as leukocytes, are associated with a diminished functional capacity of those cells.
“Decreased concentrations of vitamin C in immune cells, such as leukocytes, are associated with a diminished functional capacity of those cells [7].”
From Enhanced Vitamin C Delivery: A Systematic Literature Review Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Alternative Supplement Forms in Healthy Adults (2025) · cites this paper as [7]
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Inflammation and aging: signaling pathways and intervention therapies
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- Authors
- De la Fuente, M., Sánchez, C., Vallejo, C., Díaz-Del Cerro, E., Arnalich, F., & Hernanz, Á.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
- Hospital Universitario La Paz (ES)
- ORCID
- Arnalich, Francisco
- Venue
- Experimental Gerontology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-12
- Volume
- 142
- Pages
- 111118
- ISSN
- 0531-5565 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3092734070
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 10
- FWCI
- 5.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Experimental Gerontology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Library Open Repository (Universidad Complutense Madrid) (submittedVersion)
- Docta Complutense (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- FIS (PI15/01787)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- vitamin C, vitamin E, immunosenescence, antioxidant supplementation, neutrophil function, lymphocyte function, natural killer cells, interleukin-2, superoxide, aging, longevity
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Female, Humans, Lymphocytes, Male, Vitamin E, Dietary Supplements
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