Biological Significance of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) in Human Health - A Review

“…severity of illnesses (Hemila, 1992). breast, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, larynx, lung, Gaby and Singh (1991) reports that in 1981, in one mouth, prostate and stomach (Levine, 1996; Block, study, when 1 g of vitamin C was given intravenously to 1992; Frei, 1994; Block, 1991; Jacobs, 1993).”

“radicals released by the body in its fight against the Vitamin C has been shown to improve the effects of infection (Sies and Wilhelm, 1995).”

“…severity of illnesses (Hemila, 1992). breast, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, larynx, lung, Gaby and Singh (1991) reports that in 1981, in one mouth, prostate and stomach (Levine, 1996; Block, study, when 1 g of vitamin C was given intravenously to 1992; Frei, 1994; Block, 1991; Jacobs, 1993).”

“(Enstrom, 1992).”

“…(white blood defense against free radicals, athletes who are doing cells) to the lining of blood vessels and thereby reduce intense training may benefit from the addition of the risk of atherosclerosis (Weber, 1996; Lehr, 1995; antioxidant supplements to their diets (Dekkers et al., Heitzer, 1996).”

“…severity of illnesses (Hemila, 1992). breast, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, larynx, lung, Gaby and Singh (1991) reports that in 1981, in one mouth, prostate and stomach (Levine, 1996; Block, study, when 1 g of vitamin C was given intravenously to 1992; Frei, 1994; Block, 1991; Jacobs, 1993).”

“Vitamin C may to help protect the body against Low Density Lipoprotein provide podiatrists with a supplemental or alternative (LDL) cholesterol (Frei, 1991).”

“A against stroke and heart attack (Gale, 1995; Wood diet rich in antioxidants (Vitamin E and Vitamin C House et al., 1994; Sahyoun, 1996).”

“9 (Hankinson, 1992), some very recent works has shown cells such as phagocytes and neutrophills (Kronhausen that open angle glaucoma can be reversed by et al.”

“If the decrease the likelihood of developing cataracts association between low SAA levels and all-cause (Jacques et al., 1988). mortality is causal, increasing the consumption of Vitamin C reduces elevated pressure in the eye due to ascorbic acid and thereby SAA levels, can decrease the glaucoma…”

“It prevents et al., 1991), improves sperm quality in smokers harmful genetic alterations with in cells and protects (Dawson et al., 1992) and is effective in treating sperm lymphocytes from mutations to the chromosomes (Gaby agglutination, a condition, which causes sperm to stick and Singh, 1991).…”

“Growth in colon cancer and a vitamin C intake of the unsupplemented control subjects were infected, more than 157 mg/d has been found to reduce the risk when exposed to E. coli challenge infection (Gross and of developing colon cancer by 50% (Ferraroni, 1994; Cherry, 1988).”

“Meanwhile a study of chickens showed that vitamin C (Malins, 1996).”

“It's not surprising, then, that 10 years help to maintain better cognitive functions in these two nutrients can be effective partners in reducing women in their 70’s (Grodstein et al., 2003). the destructive process of lipid per-oxidation.”

“Since heart disease than do people with a daily intake of 60 oxidative damage is a suspected cause of cataracts, the mg/day or less (Sahyoun, 1996). addition of antioxidants to the diet may help prevent their One study has shown that low serum ascorbic acid occurrence.”

“Strenuous exercise increases the body's cells to damaged arteries (Rath, 1993; Weber, 1996; production of free radicals, which in turn can cause Lehr, 1995). muscle damage, which manifest as swollen or painful Supplementation with 2 g/day of vitamin C has been muscles.”

“If the decrease the likelihood of developing cataracts association between low SAA levels and all-cause (Jacques et al., 1988). mortality is causal, increasing the consumption of Vitamin C reduces elevated pressure in the eye due to ascorbic acid and thereby SAA levels, can decrease the glaucoma…”

“A Californian study has concluded of electrons therefore it "can donate electrons to free that people who consume more than 750 mg/d of radicals such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and vitamin C reduce their risk of dying prematurely by 60% quench their reactivity" (Bendich, 1990).”

“Halliwell, 1987).”

“It also lowers accumulation of the sugar sorbitol (Will and Tyers, 1996), which can damage acid lowers blood histamine. eyes and kidneys.”

“A daily intake of 250-1000 mg/d may be adequate for In laboratories, Vitamin C has been found to inhibit preventive purposes, but far larger quantities are HIV replication (Harakeh, 1990).”

“Vitamin C also increases the urinary Vitamin C in doses of approximately 1g daily has shown excretion of uric acid (Stein, 1976).”

“Low SAA antioxidant in the eyes (Taylor et al., 1991).”

“levels have also been a risk factor for cancer death in of vitamin C appear to decrease with age (Taylor, 1993),”

“It must be risk of death among Americans with low ascorbic acid taken in large doses - often upto 20 grams daily - and is intakes (Joel et al., 2001).”

“Strenuous exercise increases the body's cells to damaged arteries (Rath, 1993; Weber, 1996; production of free radicals, which in turn can cause Lehr, 1995). muscle damage, which manifest as swollen or painful Supplementation with 2 g/day of vitamin C has been muscles.”

“Neurotic disturbances consisting of hypochondriasis, hysteria and depression followed by decreased psychomotor performances have been reported in ascorbic acid deficiency (Kinsman and Hood, 1971).”

“The mechanism for this effect is unclear quantitatively meaningful only in specific groups of hence further confirmatory studies are indicated. subjects and is not very large (Hemila, 1997).”

“It has helped to alleviate pancreatitis, or an inflammation of the Role of vitamin C in the various body disorders: It has been reported that diabetic individual have low levels of vitamin C in the plasma and in the white blood cells (Cunningham et al., 1991), which constitute our immune defense.”

“One gram of Vitamin C, Vitamin C prevents free radical damage in the lungs and taken daily, helps to increase fertility in men who have may even help to protect the central nervous system problems with sperm agglutination (Dason et al., 1990). from such damage (Kronhausen et al., 1989a).”

“High levels of vitamin C interfere with copper absorption (Finley and Cerklewski, 1983).”

“While gastrointestinal absorption is through an efficient and an active sodium dependent, energy-requiring and carrier-mediated transport mechanism (Stevenson, 1974).”

“An adequate intake of vitamin C is surely the supplement for HIV patients, as it may help with disease best and most cost effective health insurance available resistance and overall well being (Cathcart, 1984). today.”

“As a constituent of retinopathy (Crary and McCarty, 1984; Sinclair et al., collagen, vitamin C may contribute to immune defense 1992).”

“In 1976, he proposed even higher doses, in his book "Vitamin C, the Common Cold and the Flu" (Pauling, 1976).”

“supplementing with ascorbic acid (500 mg/day) Cataracts are extremely common and happen with most (Tomoda, 1996).”

“On the average, vitamin C produces greater reducing risk of hepatitis infection (Knodell et al., 1981). benefit for children than for adults.”

“…severity of illnesses (Hemila, 1992). breast, cervix, colon, rectum, esophagus, larynx, lung, Gaby and Singh (1991) reports that in 1981, in one mouth, prostate and stomach (Levine, 1996; Block, study, when 1 g of vitamin C was given intravenously to 1992; Frei, 1994; Block, 1991; Jacobs, 1993).”

“There incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) (Axelrod, 1985). appears to be a modest benefit in reducing duration of cold symptoms from ingestion of relatively high doses of RDA of vitamin C: Vitamin C is truly a wonder nutrient vitamin C.”

“…the blood from rheumatoid arthritis patients are helps thin the blood and protects it against oxidation and extremely low and that vitamin C may protect against works in close synergism with vitamin E (Rath, 1993; further damage to inflamed joints (Lunec, 1985; Whitaker, 1985; Trout et al., 1991).”

“Vitamin C also protects us by but not before the injury successfully suppressed preventing the development of nitrosamines, the canceredema (Spillert, 1989). causing chemicals that stem from the nitrates contained As an antioxidant, vitamin C can rejuvenate vitamin E, in many foods (Gaby and Singh,…”

“Vitamin C supplementation (2 g/d) also 1996). effectively reverses the vasomotor dysfunction often Vitamin C acting as an antioxidant is helpful in the found in patients with atherosclerosis (Levine, 1996). treatment of asthma ( Ruskin, 1947).”

“It is involved in the process of detoxification of air pollutants, such as ozone, NO2 and free radicals of cigarette smoke [ 112 ].”

“It is unstable, easily oxidized and perishable in high temperatures [153].”