Multiple Effects of Ascorbic Acid against Chronic Diseases: Updated Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies.
Massimiliano BerrettaVincenzo QuagliarielloNicola MaureaRaffaele Di FranciaSaman SharifiGaetano FacchiniLuca RinaldiMichela PiezzoCeccarelli ManuelaGiuseppe NunnariMonica MontopoliPublished in: Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) (2020)
Severe disease commonly manifests as a systemic inflammatory process. Inflammation is associated withthe enhanced production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and with a marked reduction in the plasma concentrations of protective antioxidant molecules. This imbalance gives rise to oxidative stress, which is greater in patients with more severe conditions such as sepsis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and burns. In these patients, oxidative stress can trigger cell, tissue, and organ damage, thus increasing morbidity and mortality. Ascorbic acid (ASC) is a key nutrient thatserves as an antioxidant and a cofactor for numerous enzymatic reactions. However, humans, unlike most mammals, are unable to synthesize it. Consequently, ASC must be obtained through dietary sources, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. The value of administering exogenous micronutrients, to reestablish antioxidant concentrations in patients with severe disease, has been recognized for decades. Despite the suggestion that ASC supplementation may reduce oxidative stress and prevent several chronic conditions, few large, randomized clinical trials have tested it in patients with severe illness. This article reviews the recent literature on the pharmacological profile of ASC and the role of its supplementation in critically ill patients.
Keyphrases
- oxidative stress
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- diabetic rats
- cardiovascular disease
- dna damage
- ischemia reperfusion injury
- early onset
- induced apoptosis
- nlrp inflammasome
- end stage renal disease
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- drug induced
- chronic kidney disease
- ejection fraction
- randomized controlled trial
- mechanical ventilation
- clinical trial
- drinking water
- acute kidney injury
- papillary thyroid
- peritoneal dialysis
- metabolic syndrome
- squamous cell carcinoma
- risk assessment
- cardiovascular risk factors
- hydrogen peroxide
- climate change
- mesenchymal stem cells
- genetic diversity
- bone marrow
- heavy metals