Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

09:04
Generation of Self-assembled Vascularized Human Skin Equivalents
Published on: February 12, 2021
Vitamins C and E: beneficial effects from a mechanistic perspective
Maret G Traber1, Jan F Stevens
1Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. maret.traber@oregonstate.edu
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
|June 14, 2011
Summary
Vitamins C and E are essential dietary antioxidants with crucial biological roles. Their mechanisms protect against oxidative stress, inflammation, and support cellular functions, impacting various health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nutrition Science
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Vitamins C (ascorbic acid) and E (α-tocopherol) are essential human dietary antioxidants.
- Their mechanistic properties and biological effects are critical for maintaining health.
- Understanding their roles is key to addressing various health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanistic properties of vitamins C and E.
- To discuss their biological effects and relevance to human health.
- To emphasize mechanism-based effects on biomarkers and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on mechanistic properties and biological effects.
- Analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
- Emphasis on mechanism-based effects on biomarkers and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Vitamin C is a cofactor for dioxygenases, inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway, relevant to tumor growth, infections, and inflammation.
- Vitamin E scavenges radicals, protecting lipid membranes and nervous tissues.
- Both vitamins protect against oxidative stress, inflammation, and support endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function.
Conclusions:
- Vitamins C and E possess distinct yet complementary antioxidant mechanisms.
- Their bioactivities are relevant to inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular health.
- Supplementation effects on biomarkers and clinical outcomes warrant further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Enzymes require additional components for proper function. There are two such classes of molecules: cofactors and coenzymes. Cofactors are metallic ions and coenzymes are non-protein organic molecules. Both of these types of helper molecule can be tightly bound to the enzyme or bound only when the substrate binds.
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Enzymes are proteins made of amino acids. The functional group of each constituent amino acid catalyzes a wide variety of chemical reactions via ionic interactions or acid-base reactions. However, amino acids cannot catalyze oxidation-reduction and group transfer reactions and need to be aided by non-protein components called cofactors. Cofactors are also referred to as the chemical teeth of an enzyme.
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Enzymes require additional components for proper function. There are two such classes of molecules: cofactors and coenzymes. Cofactors are metallic ions and coenzymes are non-protein organic molecules. Both of these types of helper molecule can be tightly bound to the enzyme or bound only when the substrate binds.
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...