Plasma-Saturating intakes of vitamin C confer maximal antioxidant protection to plasma
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Supplemental vitamin C has been shown to reduce oxidative damage in vivo, yet the dose-response relationship between vitamin C intake and antioxidant protection is not known. This report examined blood indicators of oxidative stress in subjects consuming graded doses of vitamin C, from 75 to 2,000 mg/day. METHODS: Ten healthy, non-smoking men and women (26.1 +/- 2.1 years) were recruited from a campus population. During the ten-week study, subjects limited fruit and vegetable consumption (< or = 3 servings/day) and consumed a multivitamin and mineral pill daily. Beginning at week 3, subjects ingested either a vitamin C (n = 8) or placebo (n = 2) capsule, which were identical in appearance and taste. The content of the vitamin C capsule increased every two weeks (from 250 mg at weeks 3-4 to 500 mg, 1,000 mg. and 2,000 mg at weeks 5-6. 7-8. 9-10, respectively). Fasting blood samples were collected at two-week intervals and analyzed for vitamin C, total lipid hydroperoxides and Heinz bodies in packed erythrocytes incubated 24 hours at 37 degrees. RESULTS: Plasma vitamin C rose 55% in vitamin C-supplemented subjects by the end of the ten-week treatment (p < 0.05), and measures of oxidative stress decreased 60% to 90% (8.1 +/- 0.6 to 3.5 +/- 0.4 nmol/mL and 69.1 +/- 7.8% to 6.7 +/- 6.0% for total lipid hydroperoxides and Heinz bodies, respectively). Significant decreases in markers of oxidative stress were noted at the 500 mg, 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg dosages versus placebo. Antioxidant protection was similar at the 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg dosage. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the antioxidant protection afforded by short-term vitamin C supplementation is maximal at the 500-1,000 mg dosage range.
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Higher doses of vitamin C can behave as a prooxidant.
“Higher doses of vitamin C can behave as a prooxidant [156,168,169]”
From Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination (2021) · cites this paper as [156]
The role of vitamin C as an antioxidant has been clearly and repeatedly demonstrated in vitro, but in vivo the situation is less clear.
“Its role has been clearly and repeatedly demonstrated in vitro, but in vivo, the situation is less clear [5,6,154,155,156].”
From Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination (2021) · cites this paper as [156]
The involvement of vitamin C as an endogenous antioxidant (e.g., scavenger of ROS) is still a matter of debate.
“The involvement of vitamin C as an endogenous antioxidant, e.g., scavenger of ROS, is still a matter of debate.”
From Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination (2021) · cites this paper as [156]
A single oral dose of vitamin C of 5-10 g produces transient osmotic diarrhea and/or abdominal bloating with pain but, otherwise, even such a high dose is considered to be safe.
“A single oral dose of vitamin C of 5–10 g produces transient osmotic diarrhea and/or abdominal bloating with pain but, otherwise, even such a high dose is considered to be safe.”
From Vitamin C-Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination (2021) · cites this paper as [156]
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A REVIEW ON ANTIOXIDANT VITAMIN C AND ITS IMPACT ON SKIN HEALTH
Behera, P., Sharma, A., BISWAL, S., MOHARANA, S., Biswal, P. K., & Panda, B. B. (2025) · Innovare Journal of Medical Sciences · doi:10.22159/ijms.2025v13i5.55899
- Authors
- Johnston, C. S., & Cox, S. K.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Johnston, Carol S.
- ORCID
- Johnston, Carol S.
- Venue
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2001-12
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 623-627
- ISSN
- 0731-5724 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-1087
- OpenAlex
- W2050361512
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Keywords
- vitamin C, vitamin C supplementation, dose-response relationship, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, plasma vitamin C, lipid hydroperoxides, Heinz bodies, erythrocytes, oxidative damage
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Female, Heinz Bodies, Humans, Lipid Peroxides, Male, Reference Values, Diet Records, Oxidative Stress, Dietary Supplements
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