Research shows that vitamin C may help prevent neurodegenerative disease in those at highest risk.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, scurvy was common among sailors and caused many deaths. In 1747, Scottish physician James Lind conducted an experiment demonstrating that citrus fruits could cure scurvy. He provided sailors with different diets, including one with citrus fruits, and found that those consuming lemons and oranges recovered quickly.
In 1928, Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi isolated vitamin C and confirmed it as the key substance for preventing scurvy, in part earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient with potent antioxidant properties, playing a crucial role in cardiovascular health. Furthermore, it is vital for the synthesis of collagen in the body. Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body and in connective tissue, it keeps skin, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage supportive and elastic.
The term “vitamin” comes from the Latin word “vita,” meaning life, as these substances are crucial for maintaining our well-being.
The concentration of vitamin C in our body is significantly higher than that of any other vitamin.
Effects of Vitamin C
In addition to preventing scurvy, vitamin C also offers the following health benefits:
Combat Oxidative Stress: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals in the body, thereby reducing oxidative stress and minimizing cellular damage. Oxidative stress is a key factor in the development of various diseases.
Support Immune Function: Vitamin C enhances the immune system’s ability to fight infections and reduce inflammation. It strengthens immune defense by supporting the function of various immune cells and the body’s epithelial barriers, thereby protecting against pathogens and environmental oxidative stress.
Additionally, vitamin C deficiency can impair immunity and increase susceptibility to infections. Infections can, in turn, significantly reduce vitamin C levels due to inflammation and increased metabolic demands.
Facilitate Collagen Synthesis: Vitamin C is an essential cofactor for collagen synthesis, aiding in wound healing and promoting skin health.
A 2021 clinical trial found that supplementing 500 mg of vitamin C daily for four weeks in seven patients with foot ulcers led to significantly better wound healing compared to the control group, which comprised nine patients. All patients in the vitamin C group achieved complete ulcer healing without requiring amputation, while 44 percent of the control group still had unhealed ulcers by the end of the trial.
Promote Cardiovascular Health: Vitamin C deficiency is linked to a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In some people, particularly those with low levels of vitamin C in their blood, getting enough vitamin C may slightly improve blood vessel function and cholesterol levels.
Maintain Brain Function: Vitamin C can cross the blood-brain barrier and is essential for normal brain function. Research has shown that vitamin C levels within neurons are significantly higher than in other tissues, and its concentration in cerebrospinal fluid is about four times that of average plasma levels. However, the impact of vitamin C deficiency on the central nervous system is relatively minimal.
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in protecting nerve cell health. A deficiency in vitamin C can lead to problems with mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of cells, even in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Writing in Free Radical and Biology and Medicine, investigators from Vanderbilt University Medical Center stated, “Ascorbate may, therefore, provide a useful preventative strategy against neurodegenerative disease, particularly in populations most at risk for Alzheimer’s disease in which stores are often depleted through mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated oxidative stress.”
In other words, getting enough vitamin C might help prevent neurodegenerative diseases, especially in people at higher risk for Alzheimer’s. These individuals often have lower levels of vitamin C due to mitochondrial issues and increased oxidative stress.
The Importance of Regular Vitamin C Intake
Many people often overlook vitamin C, assuming it is abundant in foods, especially since fruits and vegetables are available year-round. As a result, they believe there is little risk of deficiency. While severe vitamin C deficiency (scurvy), along with its associated disabilities and mortality, is indeed rare today, it is important to note that a significant number of people still have low vitamin C levels.
Often, the foods we eat contain sufficient vitamin C, but we may still experience a biochemical deficiency. This can occur if the body, for various reasons, is unable to effectively absorb or utilize the vitamin.
Modern lifestyles also introduce many risk factors for vitamin C deficiency, such as smoking, alcohol use, restrictive diets, selective eating habits, food allergies, Type 1 diabetes, malabsorption, and hemodialysis. Additionally, excessive physical or psychological stress can further increase the risk of vitamin C deficiency.
The human body cannot synthesize vitamin C on its own, so it must be obtained through diet or supplements. Since vitamin C is water soluble and not stored in significant amounts, regular intake is essential. Oral supplements are usually the first choice.
High-dose intravenous supplementation may be considered in those individuals who have impaired oral absorption or in cases where rapid correction of severe deficiency is necessary.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at www.theepochtimes.com by Jingduan Yang M.D. where all credits are due.
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