title: Effects of vitamin C on health: a review of evidence.
abstract: Vitamin C is an essential dietary nutrient for the biosynthesis of collagen and a co-factor in the biosynthesis of catecholamines, L-carnitine, cholesterol, amino acids, and some peptide hormones. The lack of vitamin C causes scurvy, a pathological condition leading to blood vessel fragility and connective tissue damage due to failure in producing collagen, and, finally, to death as result of a general collapse. Vitamin C is potentially involved also in cancer and cardiovascular diseases prevention. In addition, vitamin C effects on nervous system and chronically ill patients have been also documented. This review attempts to summarize recent and well established advances in vitamin C research and its clinical implications. Since vitamin C has the potential to counteract inflammation and subsequent oxidative damage that play a major role in the initiation and progression of several chronic and acute diseases, it represents a practical tool to administer for the early prevention of these pathologic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of G.F. Ingrassia, Section of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mistretta
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marventano
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masuelli
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Giganti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modesti
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galvano
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gazzolo
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016638:Critical Illness; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D001205:Ascorbic Acid