Vitamin C: the known and the unknown and Goldilocks
SJ Padayatty, M Levine - Oral diseases, 2016 - Wiley Online Library
Oral diseases, 2016•Wiley Online Library
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), the antiscorbutic vitamin, cannot be synthesized by humans and
other primates, and has to be obtained from diet. Ascorbic acid is an electron donor and acts
as a cofactor for fifteen mammalian enzymes. Two sodium‐dependent transporters are
specific for ascorbic acid, and its oxidation product dehydroascorbic acid is transported by
glucose transporters. Ascorbic acid is differentially accumulated by most tissues and body
fluids. Plasma and tissue vitamin C concentrations are dependent on amount consumed …
other primates, and has to be obtained from diet. Ascorbic acid is an electron donor and acts
as a cofactor for fifteen mammalian enzymes. Two sodium‐dependent transporters are
specific for ascorbic acid, and its oxidation product dehydroascorbic acid is transported by
glucose transporters. Ascorbic acid is differentially accumulated by most tissues and body
fluids. Plasma and tissue vitamin C concentrations are dependent on amount consumed …
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), the antiscorbutic vitamin, cannot be synthesized by humans and other primates, and has to be obtained from diet. Ascorbic acid is an electron donor and acts as a cofactor for fifteen mammalian enzymes. Two sodium‐dependent transporters are specific for ascorbic acid, and its oxidation product dehydroascorbic acid is transported by glucose transporters. Ascorbic acid is differentially accumulated by most tissues and body fluids. Plasma and tissue vitamin C concentrations are dependent on amount consumed, bioavailability, renal excretion, and utilization. To be biologically meaningful or to be clinically relevant, in vitro and in vivo studies of vitamin C actions have to take into account physiologic concentrations of the vitamin. In this paper, we review vitamin C physiology; the many phenomena involving vitamin C where new knowledge has accrued or where understanding remains limited; raise questions about the vitamin that remain to be answered; and explore lines of investigations that are likely to be fruitful.
