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Related Experiment Videos

Vitamin C and genomic stability.

B Halliwell1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore, Singapore. bchbh@nus.edu.sg

Mutation Research
|April 11, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Vitamin C (ascorbate) shows antioxidant activity and is vital for enzymes. While associated with reduced disease risk, evidence for supplements preventing DNA damage or cancer is limited, with some benefits seen in vascular function.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Vitamin C (ascorbate) is a water-soluble glucose derivative with significant in vitro antioxidant activity.
  • In vivo, Vitamin C acts as an essential enzyme cofactor, though its antioxidant role is a major research focus.
  • Dietary intake of Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables is linked to reduced risks of cardiovascular, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vivo antioxidant effects of Vitamin C supplements.
  • To assess the evidence for Vitamin C's role in preventing oxidative DNA damage and other cellular damage.
  • To examine the potential benefits of Vitamin C in vascular function and cancer incidence.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Vitamin C's antioxidant activity and in vivo effects.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of studies measuring biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage (e.g., DNA bases, strand breaks, micronuclei).
  • Evaluation of clinical trial data on Vitamin C supplementation and health outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • In vitro studies confirm Vitamin C's antioxidant properties due to facile oxidation and low-reactivity radical.
    • Biomarker data provide no compelling evidence that Vitamin C supplements reduce in vivo oxidative DNA damage, except possibly in deficient individuals.
    • No conclusive evidence supports Vitamin C's protective effect against chromosomal aberrations or strand breaks.
    • Limited evidence suggests Vitamin C supplements may benefit vascular function disorders.
    • Diet-derived Vitamin C may reduce gastric cancer incidence in specific populations, but the mechanism (antioxidant vs. other) is unclear.

    Conclusions:

    • While Vitamin C possesses antioxidant properties, its in vivo benefits, particularly from supplements, in preventing oxidative damage and major diseases like cancer are not conclusively proven.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms and populations that may benefit from Vitamin C, distinguishing between its antioxidant and other potential roles.