Cited by 455Vitamin C and Antioxidants ResearchAntioxidant Activity and Oxidative StressPhytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities

Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent

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Kaźmierczak-Barańska, Julia, Boguszewska, Karolina, Adamus-Grabicka, Angelika, Karwowski, Bolesław T.·2020·Nutrients

Abstract

Vitamin C has been known for decades. It is common in everyday use as an element of the diet, supplementation, and a preservative. For years, research has been conducted to precisely determine the mechanism of action of ascorbate in the cell. Available results indicate its multi-directional cellular effects. Vitamin C, which belongs to antioxidants scavenging free radicals, also has a ‘second face’—as a pro-oxidative factor. However, whether is the latter nature a defect harmful to the cell, or whether a virtue that is a source of benefit? In this review, we discuss the effects of vitamin C treatment in cancer prevention and the role of ascorbate in maintaining redox balance in the central nervous system (CNS). Finally, we discuss the effect of vitamin C supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage and review the evidence that vitamin C has radioprotective properties.

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  1. [19]Janda K. Kasprzak M. Wolska J. Vitamin C—Structure, properties, occurrence and functions Pomeranian J. Life Sci. 2015 61 419 425 29522664

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Authors
Kaźmierczak-Barańska, J., Boguszewska, K., Adamus-Grabicka, A., & Karwowski, B. T.
Affiliations
Medical University of Lodz (PL)
Corresponding author
Karwowski, Bolesław T.
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-05-21
Volume
12
Issue
5
Pages
1501
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3028115663
Cited by
455
References
119
Citations by year
2026: 63 · 2025: 113 · 2024: 104 · 2023: 77 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 31 · 2019: 1
FWCI
5.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
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, antioxidant activity, pro-oxidant activity, free radical scavenging, redox homeostasis, central nervous system, cancer prevention, oxidative DNA damage, radiation protection, vitamin C supplementation
MeSH terms
Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Central Nervous System, DNA Damage, Free Radicals, Humans, Neoplasms, Oxidation-Reduction, Radiation-Protective Agents, Biomarkers, Oxidants, Oxidative Stress

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