PMID: 

J Rheumatol. 2005 Feb ;32(2):275-82. PMID: 15693087

Abstract Title: 

Effects of vitamins C and E on oxidative stress markers and endothelial function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a double blind, placebo controlled pilot study.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience excess morbidity and mortality due to coronary artery disease (CAD) that cannot be fully explained by the classical CAD risk factors. Among emerging CAD risk factors, oxidative stress is currently being emphasized. We evaluated the effects of longterm antioxidant vitamins on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense and endothelial function in 39 patients with SLE.METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive either placebo or vitamins (500 mg vitamin C and 800 IU vitamin E daily) for 12 weeks. Markers of oxidative stress included malondialdehyde (MDA) and allantoin. Antioxidants measured included erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, plasma total antioxidant power (as FRAP value), and ascorbic acid and vitamin E concentrations. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1). Primary outcome of the study included the change in lipid peroxidation as revealed by MDA levels. Secondary outcomes included changes in allantoin and antioxidant levels and change in endothelial function.RESULTS: After treatment, plasma ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly (p

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PMID: 

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2017 ;14(2):334-347. Epub 2017 Jan 13. PMID: 28573250

Abstract Title: 

THE USE OF. IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME: A META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIALS.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine theory shows that"lung being connected with large intestine", and the modern western medicine also shows that the lung and intestinal tract affect each other in physiological and pathological conditions. If the lung ventilation dysfunction is caused by inflammatory exudate or secretions obstruction of the small airway ventilation, blood gas partial pressure is increased and intestinal gas absorption difficulty may lead to intestinal inflation and dysfunction (Wang N et al., 2011).. can play the roles of anti-coagulation and anti-thrombosis, and improve microcirculation through lowering the endotoxin-induced permeability of microvascular tissue, reducing tissue oedema, decreasing inflammatory exudation and necrosis, and enhancing cyto-protection mechanism (Yang TZ et al., 2014). Therefore, systemic evaluation of the evidence pertaining to the usage of. in treating acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has significant clinical significance.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Various Electronic Databases CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched until December 2015. Numerous randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of. for the treatment of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome were collected. The quality of the included studies was evaluated and a meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan5.0 software.RESULTS: Eight RCTs involving 489 patients were selected for this review. The results of the Meta-analysis revealed that. therapy, combined with routine comprehensive treatment, was significantly superior to that of routine comprehensive treatment alone, in the areas of decreasing mortality, the mechanical ventilation time, the level of interleukin-6,8 and the untoward effect, and also in improving arterial blood gas (PaO/FiO, PaO) (P

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PMID: 

J Surg Res. 2009 May 15 ;153(2):224-30. Epub 2008 May 21. PMID: 18952228

Abstract Title: 

Effect of vitamin C administration on neutrophil apoptosis in septic patients after abdominal surgery.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of parenteral administration of vitamin C on neutrophil apoptosis by determining Fas receptor expression and caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and Bcl-2 levels in neutrophils from septic abdominal surgery patients.STUDY DESIGN: Twenty septic abdominal surgery patients were studied in a prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial. A group of healthy volunteers (n = 10) constituted a reference group for baseline parameter values. The patients were randomly assigned to a vitamin C-treated (n = 10) or placebo-treated (n = 10) group. For a 6-d period from 12 h post-surgery, the vitamin C group received 450 mg/d of the vitamin in 3 doses and the placebo group an identical administration of 5% dextrose. Early-morning peripheral blood samples were obtained daily from 24 h after vitamin C administration until d 6 post-surgery (T1d-T6d).RESULTS: Vitamin C group showed a nonsignificant reduction in Fas (CD95) expression on CD15-positive peripheral blood neutrophils, significantly decreased caspase-3, and PARP levels (caspase-3: T4d: P

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PMID: 

Nutrition. 2015 Jan ;31(1):111-8. Epub 2014 Jun 18. PMID: 25466654

Abstract Title: 

Effects of total vitamin A, vitamin C, and fruit intake on risk for metabolic syndrome in Korean women and men.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: The question of whether the consumption of antioxidants prevents and alleviates metabolic syndrome (MetS) by reducing insulin resistance remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess whether the intake of vitamin A (includingβ-carotene), vitamin C, fruits, or vegetables was negatively associated with MetS in Korean adults aged ≥ 20 y.METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 27,656 adults≥ 20 y of age who participated in the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Daily intake of vitamin A and vitamin C was assessed by 24-h recall, and the consumption of fruits and vegetables was determined using a food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) for MetSwere calculated for log2-transformed vitamin A and C intake values and for the interaction of sex with vitamin A and C intake, after covariate adjustment.RESULTS: Interactions were seen between total vitamin A and C intake and sex for MetS. With a twofold increase in total vitamin A and C intake in women, the ORs (95% confidence intervals) for metabolic syndrome were 0.942 (0.901-0.985) and 0.933 (0.883-0.987), indicating decreases of 5.8% and 6.7% in MetS, respectively. There were no equivalent decreases in men. Women in the second and highest tertiles of fruit intake exhibited 17.5% and 21.8% lower incidences of MetS, respectively, compared with women in the lowest tertile.CONCLUSIONS: The intake of total vitamin A and C, as well as moderate and high fruit intake, may have alleviated MetS in women, but not in men, in a representative sample of the general South Korean population.

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PMID: 

J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Dec ;14(10):1291-8. PMID: 19032072

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin C: is supplementation necessary for optimal health?

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Consumption of vitamin C is essential for life in humans because the body does not synthesize it. Numerous studies have demonstrated that supplementation with vitamin C enhances the immune system, avoids DNA damage, and significantly decreases the risk of a wide range of pathologies, such as cancers, and degenerative and chronic diseases. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that modern crop production, transport, and food storage severely impair the quality of food and provoke a loss in micronutrients, such as vitamin C.OBJECTIVES: In this paper, we report that the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) in vitamin C is lower than the bodily needs. In fact, it does not seem to ensure true health protection and it appears difficult to reach an effective dose of vitamin C only through food consumption. Furthermore, the literature shows that vitamin C intake higher than the RDA is safe. Therefore, in order to achieve optimal health and avoid a number of diseases, we suggest that, in the present situation, vitamin C supplementation is required.CONCLUSIONS: According to the current literature, we would like to emphasize that to ensure an optimal allowance of vitamin C, we advise 1 g daily intake of vitamin C supplementation, accompanied by a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

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PMID: 

Med Monatsschr Pharm. 2009 Feb ;32(2):49-54; quiz 55-6. PMID: 19263912

Abstract Title: 

[Vitamin C and immune function].

Abstract: 

The immune system is strongly influenced by the intake of nutrients. For a long time there has been a controversy whether vitamin C can contribute to the prevention and therapy of the common cold. Several cells of the immune system can indeed accumulate vitamin C and need the vitamin to perform their task, especially phagocytes and t-cells. Thus a vitamin C deficiency results in a reduced resistance against certain pathogens whilst a higher supply enhances several immune system parameters. With regard to the common cold different studies including meta-analyses underline that the prophylactic intake of vitamin C may slightly reduce the duration of the illness in healthy persons but does not affect its incidence and severity. Supplementation of vitamin C is most effective in cases of physical strain or insufficient intake of the vitamin. With regard to the therapy of the common cold the application of vitamin C alone is without clinical effects.

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PMID: 

Cell Immunol. 2011 ;266(2):192-9. Epub 2010 Oct 20. PMID: 21074755

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin C-treated murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells preferentially drive naïve T cells into Th1 cells by increased IL-12 secretions.

Abstract: 

Vitamin C has been reported to shift immune responses toward Th1. In this study, we evaluated whether this effect was by way of dendritic cells. Murine dendritic cells (DCs) were prepared from bone marrow precursors. DCs treated with vitamin C secreted an increased amount of IL-12p70 after activation with LPS. These cells rendered naïve T cells to secrete more Th1 cytokine, IFN-γ, and less Th2-cytokine, IL-5 in the culture supernatants. Vitamin C-treatment also increased phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 in DCs. p38 inhibitor in culture media suppressed the effect of vitamin C to elevate IL-12p70 secretion. In contrast, ERK inhibitor elevated IL-12p70 secretion. In summary, vitamin C taken up into DCs increased IL-12p70 secretion of these cells by modulating the activation of signal molecules, and thus shifted immune responses toward Th1. These data provide us a new insight on the role of vitamin C in modulating immuneresponses.

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PMID: 

J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Nov 11 ;57(21):10471-6. PMID: 19831405

Abstract Title: 

High dose vitamin C supplementation increases the Th1/Th2 cytokine secretion ratio, but decreases eosinophilic infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of ovalbumin-sensitized and challenged mice.

Abstract: 

Vitamin C is traditionally regarded to be beneficial for asthma, however the benefit is still controversial. In the present study, high dose vitamin C was supplemented to ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and challenged mice to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin C on allergic asthma. In this study, the experimental mice were divided into four groups, including nonsensitized control, dietary control, positive control (cured ip with dexamethasone), and high dose vitamin C supplementation (130 mg of vitamin C/kg bw/day by gavage for 5 weeks). Differential leukocyte counts, levels of inflammatory mediators, as well as type 1 T-helper lymphocytes (Th1)-type and type 2 T-helper lymphocytes (Th2)-type cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined. The results showed that both high dose vitamin C supplementation and dexamethasone treatments significantly (P

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PMID: 

Braz J Biol. 2009 Nov ;69(4):1195-201. PMID: 19967193

Abstract Title: 

Ascorbic acid for the healing of skin wounds in rats.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Healing is a complex process that involves cellular and biochemical events. Several medicines have been used in order to shorten healing time and avoid aesthetic damage.OBJECTIVE: to verify the topical effect of ascorbic acid for the healing of rats' skin wounds through the number of macrophages, new vessels and fibroblast verifications in the experimental period; and analyse the thickness and the collagen fibre organization in the injured tissue.METHODS: Male Rattus norvegicus weighing 270 +/- 30 g were used. After thionembutal anesthesia, 15 mm transversal incisions were made in the animals' cervical backs. They were divided into two groups: Control Group (CG, n = 12) – skin wound cleaned with water and soap daily; Treated Group (TG, n = 12) – skin wound cleaned daily and treated with ascorbic acid cream (10%). Samples of skin were collected on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and picrosirius red for morphologic analysis. The images were obtained and analysed by a Digital Analyser System.RESULTS: The ascorbic acid acted on every stage of the healing process. It reduced the number of macrophages, increased the proliferation of fibroblasts and new vessels, and stimulated the synthesis of thicker and more organized collagen fibres in the wounds when compared to CG.CONCLUSION: Ascorbic acid was shown to have anti-inflammatory and healing effects, guaranteeing a suiTable environment and conditions for faster skin repair.

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PMID: 

Toxicol Ind Health. 2012 Aug ;28(7):648-54. Epub 2011 Oct 10. PMID: 21986888

Abstract Title: 

The protective role of ascorbic acid on imazalil-induced genetic damage assessed by the cytogenetic tests.

Abstract: 

Ascorbic acid (AA), known as vitamin C, has important antioxidant and metabolic functions, making its incorporation into the human diet essential. On the other hand, imazalil (IMA), a commonly used fungicide in both agricultural and clinical domains is suspected to produce very serious toxic effects in vertebrates. In this study, the antigenotoxic effects of AA were studied against the genotoxic damage induced by IMA on cultured human lymphocytes using chromosomal aberration (CA) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) as genetic end points. Human peripheral lymphocytes were treated in vitro with varying concentrations of AA (25, 50, 100, 200, and 400μg/ml), tested in combination with IMA (336 mg/L). AA alone was not genotoxic and when combined with IMA treatment, reduced the frequencies of CAs and SCEs. A clear dose-dependent decrease in the genotoxic damage of IMA was observed, suggesting a genoprotective role of AA. In conclusion, the preventive role of AA in alleviating IMA-induced DNA damage was indicated for the first time in the present study.

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