JACN Did you know that you can get alerts when a new issue is online?
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Padayatty, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Levine, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Padayatty, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Levine, M.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 22, No. 1, 18-35 (2003)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Review Article

Vitamin C as an Antioxidant: Evaluation of Its Role in Disease Prevention

Sebastian J. Padayatty, MRCP, PhD, Arie Katz, MD, Yaohui Wang, MD, Peter Eck, PhD, Oran Kwon, PhD, Je-Hyuk Lee, PhD, Shenglin Chen, PhD, Christopher Corpe, PhD, Anand Dutta, BS, Sudhir K Dutta, MD, FACN and Mark Levine, MD, FACN

Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda (S.J.P., A.K., Y.W., P.E., O.K., J.-H.L., S.C., C.C., M.L.), Maryland
Division of Gastroenterology, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore (A.D., S.K.D.), Maryland

Address correspondence to: Mark Levine MD, Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, Digestive Diseases Branch, Building 10, Room 4D52, MSC 1372, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1372. E-mail: MarkL{at}intra.niddk.nih.gov

Vitamin C in humans must be ingested for survival. Vitamin C is an electron donor, and this property accounts for all its known functions. As an electron donor, vitamin C is a potent water-soluble antioxidant in humans. Antioxidant effects of vitamin C have been demonstrated in many experiments in vitro. Human diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer might occur in part from oxidant damage to tissues. Oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA results in specific oxidation products that can be measured in the laboratory. While these biomarkers of oxidation have been measured in humans, such assays have not yet been validated or standardized, and the relationship of oxidant markers to human disease conditions is not clear. Epidemiological studies show that diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer, and with increased longevity. Whether these protective effects are directly attributable to vitamin C is not known. Intervention studies with vitamin C have shown no change in markers of oxidation or clinical benefit. Dose concentration studies of vitamin C in healthy people showed a sigmoidal relationship between oral dose and plasma and tissue vitamin C concentrations. Hence, optimal dosing is critical to intervention studies using vitamin C. Ideally, future studies of antioxidant actions of vitamin C should target selected patient groups. These groups should be known to have increased oxidative damage as assessed by a reliable biomarker or should have high morbidity and mortality due to diseases thought to be caused or exacerbated by oxidant damage.

Abbreviations: LDL = low density lipoprotein • 8OHdG = 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine • SVCT = sodium dependent vitamin C transporter • NO = nitric oxide

Key words: ascorbic acid, oxidation, diet, low-density lipoproteins




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
Q. Chen, M. G. Espey, A. Y. Sun, C. Pooput, K. L. Kirk, M. C. Krishna, D. B. Khosh, J. Drisko, and M. Levine
From the Cover: Pharmacologic doses of ascorbate act as a prooxidant and decrease growth of aggressive tumor xenografts in mice
PNAS, August 12, 2008; 105(32): 11105 - 11109.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
G. P. Van Guilder, G. L. Hoetzer, J. J. Greiner, B. L. Stauffer, and C. A. DeSouza
Acute and chronic effects of vitamin C on endothelial fibrinolytic function in overweight and obese adult humans
J. Physiol., July 15, 2008; 586(14): 3525 - 3535.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr Cancer TherHome page
Franky Dhaval Shah, Shilin Nandubhai Shukla, Pankaj Manubhai Shah, H. R. H. Patel, and Prabhudas Shankerbhai Patel
Significance of Alterations in Plasma Lipid Profile Levels in Breast Cancer
Integr Cancer Ther, March 1, 2008; 7(1): 33 - 41.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Am. Coll. Nutr.Home page
L. Robert, A. Narcy, Y. Rayssiguier, A. Mazur, and C. Remesy
Lipid Metabolism and Antioxidant Status in Sucrose vs. Potato-Fed Rats
J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2008; 27(1): 109 - 116.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
P. K Myint, R. N Luben, A. A Welch, S. A Bingham, N. J Wareham, and K.-T. Khaw
Plasma vitamin C concentrations predict risk of incident stroke over 10 y in 20 649 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer Norfolk prospective population study
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2008; 87(1): 64 - 69.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
S. J Padayatty and M. Levine
Reply to V Bahr et al
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2008; 87(1): 191 - 192.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
C. L. Linster, T. A. Gomez, K. C. Christensen, L. N. Adler, B. D. Young, C. Brenner, and S. G. Clarke
Arabidopsis VTC2 Encodes a GDP-L-Galactose Phosphorylase, the Last Unknown Enzyme in the Smirnoff-Wheeler Pathway to Ascorbic Acid in Plants
J. Biol. Chem., June 29, 2007; 282(26): 18879 - 18885.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Clin. Nutr.Home page
A. Agudo, L. Cabrera, P. Amiano, E. Ardanaz, A. Barricarte, T. Berenguer, M. D Chirlaque, M. Dorronsoro, P. Jakszyn, N. Larranaga, et al.
Fruit and vegetable intakes, dietary antioxidant nutrients, and total mortality in Spanish adults: findings from the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain)
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2007; 85(6): 1634 - 1642.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
V. Montecinos, P. Guzman, V. Barra, M. Villagran, C. Munoz-Montesino, K. Sotomayor, E. Escobar, A. Godoy, L. Mardones, P. Sotomayor, et al.
Vitamin C Is an Essential Antioxidant That Enhances Survival of Oxidatively Stressed Human Vascular Endothelial Cells in the Presence of a Vast Molar Excess of Glutathione
J. Biol. Chem., May 25, 2007; 282(21): 15506 - 15515.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Leukoc. Biol.Home page
M. C. M. Vissers and R. P. Wilkie
Ascorbate deficiency results in impaired neutrophil apoptosis and clearance and is associated with up-regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1{alpha}
J. Leukoc. Biol., May 1, 2007; 81(5): 1236 - 1244.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.Home page
M. A. SHAMSI, A. AMIN, and E. ADEGHATE
Effect of Vitamin C on Liver and Kidney Functions in Normal and Diabetic Rats
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., November 1, 2006; 1084(1): 371 - 390.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
M. P. Nantz, C. A. Rowe, C. Nieves Jr., and S. S. Percival
Immunity and Antioxidant Capacity in Humans Is Enhanced by Consumption of a Dried, Encapsulated Fruit and Vegetable Juice Concentrate
J. Nutr., October 1, 2006; 136(10): 2606 - 2610.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin. Cancer Res.Home page
L. Catley and K. C. Anderson
Velcade and Vitamin C: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Clin. Cancer Res., January 1, 2006; 12(1): 3 - 4.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
H. Chen, R. J. Karne, G. Hall, U. Campia, J. A. Panza, R. O. Cannon III, Y. Wang, A. Katz, M. Levine, and M. J. Quon
High-dose oral vitamin C partially replenishes vitamin C levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes and low vitamin C levels but does not improve endothelial dysfunction or insulin resistance
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, January 1, 2006; 290(1): H137 - H145.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.Home page
M. Jenab, S. Bingham, P. Ferrari, M. D. Friesen, W. K. Al-Delaimy, R. Luben, N. Wareham, K.-T. Khaw, and E. Riboli
Long-term Cryoconservation and Stability of Vitamin C in Serum Samples of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., July 1, 2005; 14(7): 1837 - 1840.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr Cancer TherHome page
M. J. Gonzalez, J. R. Miranda-Massari, E. M. Mora, A. Guzman, N. H. Riordan, H. D. Riordan, J. J. Casciari, J. A. Jackson, and A. Roman-Franco
Orthomolecular Oncology Review: Ascorbic Acid and Cancer 25 Years Later
Integr Cancer Ther, March 1, 2005; 4(1): 32 - 44.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
M. L. Kwan, G. Block, S. Selvin, S. Month, and P. A. Buffler
Food Consumption by Children and the Risk of Childhood Acute Leukemia
Am. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2004; 160(11): 1098 - 1107.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
K. Salnikow, S. P. Donald, R. K. Bruick, A. Zhitkovich, J. M. Phang, and K. S. Kasprzak
Depletion of Intracellular Ascorbate by the Carcinogenic Metals Nickel and Cobalt Results in the Induction of Hypoxic Stress
J. Biol. Chem., September 24, 2004; 279(39): 40337 - 40344.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ANN INTERN MEDHome page
S. J. Padayatty, H. Sun, Y. Wang, H. D. Riordan, S. M. Hewitt, A. Katz, R. A. Wesley, and M. Levine
Vitamin C Pharmacokinetics: Implications for Oral and Intravenous Use
Ann Intern Med, April 6, 2004; 140(7): 533 - 537.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2003 by the American College of Nutrition.