Effect of vitamin C and vitamin E analog on aged fibroblasts

Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured and aged in vitro. Survival of young and aged fibroblasts was determined in the presence and absence of different concentrations of two vitamins. Vit C at doses of 5, 12.5, 25 and 50 mumol/L and water-soluble Vit E (Trolox) at 1, 5, 10 and 50 mg/L, were added 30 minutes before oxidative stress, consisting of exposure to 5 mM hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes. A non-radioactive cell proliferation cytotoxicity assay (MTT) was used to determine the protective effect of the vitamins studied. Vit C produced a clear cytoprotective effect on aged cells over the entire range of doses applied. The protection provided by Vit E, was less pronounced.