Ascorbic acid concentrations in aqueous humor after systemic vitamin C supplementation in patients with cataract: pilot study

This study was conducted to explore the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum liver function tests in healthy individuals. A total of 200 subjects were selected randomly. 100 were given ascorbic acid supplementation for 30 days. The other 100 were not given ascorbic acid supplementation, and serum ascorbic acid level and liver function profile was observed before and after intake of ascorbic acid in group A and without intake in group B. The liver function parameters determined were aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and serum protein (total protein, albumin and globulin). These parameters along with serum ascorbic acid were measured before and 30 days after vitamin C supplementation. Various parameters of liver function profile were improved swiftly when compared to other group which was not given ascorbic acid supplementation. While comparing the two treatment groups for 30 days, statistically significant improvement was seen in serum ascorbic acid levels (p<0.001) along with improvement in some components of liver function profile such as serum ALT (p<0.01), AST (p<0.01), Total Bilirubin (p<0.01) and Direct bilirubin (p<0.001), Total Proteins (p<0.01) and Albumin (p<0.001) in group A as compared to Group B (without vitamin C supplementation intake). Conclusively, Liver Functions were significantly improved with vitamin C supplementation, giving the supportive evidence of the use of vitamin C as an antioxidant.

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Vitamin C supplementation in relation to inflammation in individuals with atrophic gastritis: a randomised controlled trial in Japan

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114512002954 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 109 (6) ◽

pp. 1089-1095 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Enbo Ma ◽

Shizuka Sasazuki ◽

Satoshi Sasaki ◽

Yoshitaka Tsubono ◽

Shunji Okubo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Atrophic Gastritis ◽

Stomach Cancer ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Dosage Group ◽

Vitamin C Supplementation ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Group 1

Evidence has shown that both C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid component A (SAA) are increased in individuals with gastritis and stomach cancer. Controlling the level of these biomarkers by inhibiting the gastric infection with high doses of ascorbic acid may reduce the risk of carcinogenesis. A population-based double-blind randomised controlled trial in a Japanese population with atrophic gastritis in an area of high stomach cancer incidence was conducted between 1995 and 2000. Daily doses of 50 or 500 mg vitamin C were given, and 120 and 124 participants completed the 5-year study, respectively. Although serum ascorbic acid was higher in the high-dosage group (1·73 (sd 0·46) μg/l) than in the low-dosage group (1·49 (sd 0·29) μg/l, P< 0·001), at the end of the study, no significant difference was observed for CRP between the low- and high-dosage groups (0·39 (95 % CI 0·04, 4·19) mg/l and 0·38 (95 % CI 0·03, 4·31) mg/l, respectively; P= 0·63) or for SAA between the low- and high-dosage groups (3·94 (95 % CI 1·04, 14·84) μg/ml and 3·85 (95 % CI 0·99, 14·92) μg/ml, respectively; P= 0·61). Vitamin C supplementation may not have a strong effect on reducing infections in individuals with atrophic gastritis.

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Mechanisms of attenuation of abdominal sepsis induced acute lung injury by ascorbic acid

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00300.2011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 303 (1) ◽

pp. L20-L32 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Bernard J. Fisher ◽

Donatas Kraskauskas ◽

Erika J. Martin ◽

Daniela Farkas ◽

Jacob A. Wegelin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Acute Lung Injury ◽

Lung Injury ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Epithelial Barrier ◽

Epithelial Permeability ◽

Alveolar Fluid Clearance ◽

Coagulation Abnormalities ◽

Junction Protein ◽

Vitamin C Supplementation

Bacterial infections of the lungs and abdomen are among the most common causes of sepsis. Abdominal peritonitis often results in acute lung injury (ALI). Recent reports demonstrate a potential benefit of parenteral vitamin C [ascorbic acid (AscA)] in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Therefore we examined the mechanisms of vitamin C supplementation in the setting of abdominal peritonitis-mediated ALI. We hypothesized that vitamin C supplementation would protect lungs by restoring alveolar epithelial barrier integrity and preventing sepsis-associated coagulopathy. Male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with a fecal stem solution to induce abdominal peritonitis (FIP) 30 min prior to receiving either AscA (200 mg/kg) or dehydroascorbic acid (200 mg/kg). Variables examined included survival, extent of ALI, pulmonary inflammatory markers (myeloperoxidase, chemokines), bronchoalveolar epithelial permeability, alveolar fluid clearance, epithelial ion channel, and pump expression (aquaporin 5, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, epithelial sodium channel, and Na+-K+-ATPase), tight junction protein expression (claudins, occludins, zona occludens), cytoskeletal rearrangements (F-actin polymerization), and coagulation parameters (thromboelastography, pro- and anticoagulants, fibrinolysis mediators) of septic blood. FIP-mediated ALI was characterized by compromised lung epithelial permeability, reduced alveolar fluid clearance, pulmonary inflammation and neutrophil sequestration, coagulation abnormalities, and increased mortality. Parenteral vitamin C infusion protected mice from the deleterious consequences of sepsis by multiple mechanisms, including attenuation of the proinflammatory response, enhancement of epithelial barrier function, increasing alveolar fluid clearance, and prevention of sepsis-associated coagulation abnormalities. Parenteral vitamin C may potentially have a role in the management of sepsis and ALI associated with sepsis.

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