Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent
Vitamin C has been known for decades. It is common in everyday use as an element of the diet, supplementation, and a preservative. For years, research has been conducted to precisely determine the mechanism of action of ascorbate in the cell. Available results indicate its multi-directional cellular...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1501 |
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| author | Julia Kaźmierczak-Barańska Karolina Boguszewska Angelika Adamus-Grabicka Bolesław T. Karwowski |
| author_facet | Julia Kaźmierczak-Barańska Karolina Boguszewska Angelika Adamus-Grabicka Bolesław T. Karwowski |
| author_sort | Julia Kaźmierczak-Barańska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vitamin C has been known for decades. It is common in everyday use as an element of the diet, supplementation, and a preservative. For years, research has been conducted to precisely determine the mechanism of action of ascorbate in the cell. Available results indicate its multi-directional cellular effects. Vitamin C, which belongs to antioxidants scavenging free radicals, also has a ‘second face’—as a pro-oxidative factor. However, whether is the latter nature a defect harmful to the cell, or whether a virtue that is a source of benefit? In this review, we discuss the effects of vitamin C treatment in cancer prevention and the role of ascorbate in maintaining redox balance in the central nervous system (CNS). Finally, we discuss the effect of vitamin C supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage and review the evidence that vitamin C has radioprotective properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:41:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eef86ecbbd134054a83be40885d9d5ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:41:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-eef86ecbbd134054a83be40885d9d5ed2023-11-20T01:16:07ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-05-01125150110.3390/nu12051501Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative AgentJulia Kaźmierczak-Barańska0Karolina Boguszewska1Angelika Adamus-Grabicka2Bolesław T. Karwowski3DNA Damage Laboratory of Food Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, PolandDNA Damage Laboratory of Food Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, PolandDNA Damage Laboratory of Food Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, PolandDNA Damage Laboratory of Food Science Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, ul. Muszynskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, PolandVitamin C has been known for decades. It is common in everyday use as an element of the diet, supplementation, and a preservative. For years, research has been conducted to precisely determine the mechanism of action of ascorbate in the cell. Available results indicate its multi-directional cellular effects. Vitamin C, which belongs to antioxidants scavenging free radicals, also has a ‘second face’—as a pro-oxidative factor. However, whether is the latter nature a defect harmful to the cell, or whether a virtue that is a source of benefit? In this review, we discuss the effects of vitamin C treatment in cancer prevention and the role of ascorbate in maintaining redox balance in the central nervous system (CNS). Finally, we discuss the effect of vitamin C supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage and review the evidence that vitamin C has radioprotective properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1501vitamin Cantioxidantspro-oxidative factoranticancer activityDNA lesionsradioprotective properties |
| spellingShingle | Julia Kaźmierczak-Barańska Karolina Boguszewska Angelika Adamus-Grabicka Bolesław T. Karwowski Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent Nutrients vitamin C antioxidants pro-oxidative factor anticancer activity DNA lesions radioprotective properties |
| title | Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent |
| title_full | Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent |
| title_fullStr | Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent |
| title_short | Two Faces of Vitamin C—Antioxidative and Pro-Oxidative Agent |
| title_sort | two faces of vitamin c antioxidative and pro oxidative agent |
| topic | vitamin C antioxidants pro-oxidative factor anticancer activity DNA lesions radioprotective properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1501 |
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