Vitamin C and Immune Function
By A. Carr, S. Maggini. Nutrients, 2017
1,744 citations recorded by the source corpus.
Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans, with pleiotropic functions related to its ability to donate electrons. It is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for a family of biosynthetic and gene regulatory enzymes. Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress. Vitamin C accumulates in phagocytic cells, such as neutrophils, and can enhance chemotaxis, phagocytosis, generation of reactive oxygen species, and ultimately microbial killing. It is also needed for apoptosis and clearance of the spent neutrophils from sites of infection by macrophages, thereby decreasing necrosis/NETosis and potential tissue damage. The role of vitamin C in lymphocytes is less clear, but it has been shown to enhance differentiation and proliferation of B- and T-cells, likely due to its gene regulating effects. Vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections. In turn, infections significantly impact on vitamin C levels due to enhanced inflammation and metabolic requirements. Furthermore, supplementation with vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Prophylactic prevention of infection requires dietary vitamin C intakes that provide at least adequate, if not saturating plasma levels (i.e., 100–200 mg/day), which optimize cell and tissue levels. In contrast, treatment of established infections requires significantly higher (gram) doses of the vitamin to compensate for the increased inflammatory response and metabolic demand.
Subfields: Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pathology and Forensic Medicine
View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d1ec184c1deec6bfe8d516dda027059f2619e1ad
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Citations in the corpus
- Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis (2020, background): “In parallel, vitamin C can also stimulate neutrophil apoptosis, protecting host tissue from strong damage [270], and it further aids in macrophage removal [268].”
- The Food Systems in the Era of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Crisis (2020, background): “For instance, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is known to play a protective role, as it supports the immune function and is necessary for the development and repair of all body tissues [12].”
- Global Impacts of Western Diet and Its Effects on Metabolism and Health: A Narrative Review (2023, background): “This may contribute to the development of chronic diseases, as low antioxidant status has been linked to increased oxidative stress and inflammation [69].”
- Immune System Dysregulation During Spaceflight: Potential Countermeasures for Deep Space Exploration Missions (2018, background): “The immune-enhancing role of vitamin C has been reviewed (61, 62), and vitamin C has been shown to stimulate cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune systems.”
- A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System–Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection (2020, background): “Vitamin C Promotes collagen synthesis and protects cell membranes from damage caused by free radicals, thus supporting integrity of epithelial barriers [8]; enhances keratinocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis as well as fibroblast proliferation and migration [21]”