Efficient Estimation of Ascorbic Acid in Vitamin C Tablets Enabled by Phase-Transfer Strategy.

In this paper, we introduced a novel phase-transfer strategy tailored for the efficient batch detection of ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablets. This method entailed the reaction between ascorbic acid and an excess of potassium permanganate. Subsequent reaction of the residual potassium permanganate with sodium oxalate in an acidic medium led to the generation of carbon dioxide. The quantification of the produced carbon dioxide was achieved using headspace GC, enabling the indirect measurement of ascorbic acid. The obtained findings revealed that the headspace method exhibited satisfied precision with a relative standard deviation of less than 2.11% and high sensitivity with a limit of quantitation of 0.27 µmol. These results firmly establish the reliability of this innovative approach for determining ascorbic acid. In addition, the highly automated feature of headspace method significantly enhances the efficiency of batch sample detection and reduces the errors caused by human operation. Thus, the adoption of the transformed phase strategy has demonstrated its effectiveness in assessing ascorbic acid, especially for large-scale sample analysis in industrial applications, owing to its efficiency, precision, and sensitivity.

Antioxidants for Skin Health.

Antioxidants play a pivotal role in maintaining skin health and integrity, combating the deleterious effects of oxidative stress induced by environmental aggressors such as UV ra-diation, pollution, and lifestyle factors. This paper reviews the contributions of key antioxidants, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, green tea extract, Coenzyme Q10, Resveratrol, Selenium, and Polyphenols, in skin health care. Vitamin C, known for its collagen synthesis promotion and photoprotection properties, alongside Vitamin E, a lipid-soluble antioxidant, syn-ergistically works to neutralize free radicals and repair damaged skin cells. Vitamin A, in the form of retinol, plays a critical role in skin cell regeneration and the maintenance of skin integ-rity. Green tea extract, rich in Polyphenols, offers anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic prop-erties, making it a potent ingredient for skin protection. Coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring antioxidant in the body, aids in energy production for cell repair and regeneration, while Resveratrol, found in grapes and berries, provides anti-ageing benefits by enhancing skin's re-sistance to oxidative stress. Selenium, an essential mineral, contributes to the protection of skin cells from oxidative damage. The incorporation of these antioxidants in skincare products and dietary sources is discussed, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach in skincare re-gimes. The paper emphasizes the synergy between topical applications and dietary intake of antioxidants, advocating for a comprehensive strategy for promoting skin health and preventing age-related skin alterations. Method: For the review article, a variety of search engines and databases were used to identify relevant articles. Furthermore, for biomedical literature focusing on antioxidants and their ef-fects on skin health, PubMed was used. Moreover, to access a wide range of scholarly articles, including those related to dermatology and skincare, Google Scholar was used. Scopus provides comprehensive coverage of peer-reviewed literature across various scientific disciplines. Web of Science identifies high-impact articles and research on antioxidants in skincare. In addition, for accessing full-text articles on antioxidants and their applications in dermatology, Science Direct was used. The inclusion criteria for the review paper were as follows: only studies pub-lished in peer-reviewed journals were included to ensure the credibility and reliability of the information. Articles published in English were considered, to avoid language-related biases and ensure comprehension. Studies published within the last 10 years were included to provide the most current insights into antioxidant research in skincare. Articles must specifically focus on the role of antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, green tea extract, Coenzyme Q10, Resveratrol, Selenium, Polyphenols) in skin health care. Both experimental studies (in vivo and in vitro) and clinical trials were included to provide a comprehensive overview of the antioxidant effects. Full-text articles were included to allow for thorough data extraction and analysis. The exclusion criteria for the review paper were as follows: Publications that were not peer-re-viewed, such as editorials, opinion pieces, and non-scholarly articles, were excluded. Articles published in languages other than English were excluded due to potential translation challenges and to maintain consistency. Studies that did not focus on the specified antioxidants or their impact on skin health were excluded. Duplicate publications were excluded to avoid redundancy in the review. Articles with insufficient or incomplete data were excluded to ensure the quality and reliability of the review findings.

The association of combined vitamin C and D deficiency with bone mineral density and vertebral fracture.

PURPOSE: Both vitamin C and D deficiencies are extremely common in clinical practice, especially in elderly population. Unfortunately, the role of vitamin C deficiency in osteoporosis related consequences is often neglected. The aim of the present study is to analyse if combined vitamin C and D deficiency would have an association with bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF). METHODS: Ninety-nine post-menopausal female patients admitted in the department of spine surgery of third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled in the study. The participants were divided into four groups; vitamin D deficiency alone (comparator group), vitamin C deficiency alone and combined vitamin C and D deficiency as experimental group. The levels of vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous, BMD and condition of OVF were analysed. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of vitamin C and D levels. In terms of lumbar BMD, significant differences were observed between vitamin D deficiency alone and combined vitamin C and D deficiency. Only the combined vitamin C and D deficiency had a significant negative association with lumbar BMD and T-score. Similarly, combined vitamin C and D deficiency had a significant positive association with lumbar osteoporosis. None of the groups had any significant association with OVF. Combined vitamin C and D deficiency was found to be significantly associated with lower lumbar BMD and osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Combined vitamin C and D deficiency results in lower bone mineral density and higher risk of osteoporosis. We believe that existence of deficiencies of both vitamins could have a synergistic effect. Therefore, we recommend that vitamin C and D should be routinely measured in clinical practice.

Hydrogen peroxide and salt stress in radish: effects on growth, physiology, and root quality.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays a central role in responses to salt stress, a major abiotic stress that impacts crop yield worldwide. Despite the evidence that H2O2 mitigates salt stress and improves post-harvest quality on several species, its effects on radish were not investigated so far. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the exogenous application of H2O2 on salt stress mitigation of radish growth, physiology, and post-harvest quality. For this, radish plants were grown in pots for 30 days, being watered with non-saline (0.31 dS m-1) or saline water (120 mM NaCl, 12.25 dS m-1). Plants were leaf-sprayed weekly with water (control - 0 µM H2O2) or H2O2 (150 or 1500 µM) solutions. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (H2O2 treatments × salt stress conditions). The growth, physiology (gas exchanges, photochemical efficiency, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, and the contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids), and post-harvest attributes of globular roots (color, anthocyanins, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, and soluble solids) were determined. Salt stress decreased gas exchanges and increased electrolyte leakage, which resulted in stunted radish growth, and increased the contents of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, soluble solids, and vitamin C, improving globular root quality. Conversely, H2O2 did not mitigate salt stress effects on radish growth, photosynthetic capacity, and oxidative damages. Although H2O2 increased vitamin C under non-stressed condition, it was decreased under salt stress. Thus, we conclude that H2O2 did not mitigate salt stress on radish growth and quality. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01476-z.

Targeting the redox vulnerability of acute myeloid leukaemia cells with a combination of auranofin and vitamin C.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by complex molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. Pro-oxidant cellular redox status is a common hallmark of AML cells, providing a rationale for redox-based anticancer strategy. We previously discovered that auranofin (AUF), initially used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and repositioned for its anticancer activity, can synergize with a pharmacological concentration of vitamin C (VC) against breast cancer cell line models. In this study, we observed that this drug combination synergistically and efficiently killed cells of leukaemic cell lines established from different myeloid subtypes. In addition to an induced elevation of reactive oxygen species and ATP depletion, a rapid dephosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and p70S6K, together with a strong inhibition of protein synthesis were early events in response to AUF/VC treatment, suggesting their implication in AUF/VC-induced cytotoxicity. Importantly, a study on 22 primary AML specimens from various AML subtypes showed that AUF/VC combinations at pharmacologically achievable concentrations were effective to eradicate primary leukaemic CD34+ cells from the majority of these samples, while being less toxic to normal cord blood CD34+ cells. Our findings indicate that targeting the redox vulnerability of AML with AUF/VC combinations could present a potential anti-AML therapeutic approach.

Development and optimization of electrosprayed vitamin C - chitosan nanoparticle: A CCD-RSM approach and characterization of bioactive encapsulant.

Electrospraying for Vitamin C (VC) encapsulation in Chitosan (Cs) nanoparticles was investigated and particle size, zeta potential, loading capacity (LC%) and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) were examined. Cs concentration (1-2% w/v) and voltage (21-25 kV) were varied with VC (0.25-0.75 w/w Cs). Twenty experiments in a face-centered CCD-RSM design were evaluated. ANOVA suggested voltage and Cs concentration as significant factors for particle size and VC content affected zeta, LC and EE%. RSM proposed optimum processing parameter at 2% Cs, 0.746 VC: Cs mass ratio and 21 kV voltage with 251.1 ± 59.03 nm particle size, 36.6% LC and an EE of 85.42%. Encapsulated particles were subjected to release behaviour, antioxidant property and analyzed through FTIR, DSC and XRD. Encapsulated VC had better antibacterial properties than Cs nanoparticles, and comparable VC retention in apple juice showed its effectiveness. Overall, nanoencapsulation of VC using electrospraying was successfully developed to be used in numerous food processing applications.

Evaluation of the role of some non-enzymatic antioxidants among Iraqi patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by hepatic fat accumulation in individuals consuming little or no alcohol, has become highly prevalent globally. Oxidative stress plays a central role in instigating inflammation and cell death pathways driving NAFLD progression. This case-control study aimed to elucidate the association between circulating levels of the pivotal non-enzymatic antioxidants - coenzyme Q10 and vitamins E and C - and liver injury parameters among 60 Iraqi NAFLD patients versus 30 healthy controls. NAFLD diagnosis entailed over 5% hepatic steatosis on ultrasound excluding other etiologies. Patients spanned three age groups: 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49. Substantially diminished antioxidant levels concurrent with elevated alkaline phosphatase enzyme were unveiled in NAFLD patients relative to controls (all p < 0.001). Age-based analysis reinforced widespread antioxidant depletion and liver enzyme augmentation across NAFLD patients. Significant correlations also emerged between antioxidants and liver parameters. Our novel observations confirm an antioxidant inadequacy likely perpetuating pathogenic oxidative reactions in NAFLD. Restoring such deficits through lifestyle or therapeutic interventions may confer preventative and disease-modifying value.

Ecophysiological and nutritional characterisation of two morphotypes of Cakile maritima subsp. maritima Scop. from Puglia region, Southern Italy.

Cakile maritima subsp. maritima Scop. (sea rocket) is a succulent halophyte with significant potential as a nutritious food source, being rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This annual species exhibits two distinct leaf morphotypes: entire lamina (EL) and pinnatifid lamina (PL). Our understanding of their ecophysiological and nutritional profiles is still limited. The present study investigated the wild EL and PL sea rocket plants from southern Italy during their vegetative stage. The bio-morphological traits (leaf mass area-LMA, dry matter and chlorophyll concentrations), main inorganic ions, key antioxidants (carotenoids, anthocyanins, phenols, flavonoids, glucosinolates, vitamin C as ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid), and antioxidant activity (by FRAP, DPPH, ABTS assays) were analyzed. Additionally, photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were measured. PL plants showed thicker leaves (higher LMA) and greater accumulation of photo-protective pigments (carotenoids and anthocyanins), despite similar chlorophyll levels. The PL plants also demonstrated higher photosynthetic activity, transpiration rates, and stomatal conductance, with reduced non-photochemical quenching. The EL morphotype had higher cation (K, Mg, Ca, Na) and vitamin C (135.3 mg 100 g-1 FW) concentrations, while no significant disparities were observed between the morphotypes in phenolic concentration (208.5 mg g.a.e. 100 g-1 FW), flavonoids (71.5 mg q.e. 100 g-1 FW), or glucosinolates (61 mg g-1 FW). Interestingly, while the EL type had higher vitamin C, the PL morphotype showed superior antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH) and seems to be better adapted to water/nutrient scarcity typical of southern Italy. Both morphotypes offer potential as high-nutritional foods, however, future research should investigate the genotype-specific production of antioxidant compounds in EL and PL plants in response to environmental stresses, including salinity for potential exploitation as a new crop.

Association of dietary vitamin C consumption with severe headache or migraine among adults: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 1999-2004.

Background: An antioxidant-rich diet has been shown to protect against migraines in previous research. However, little has been discovered regarding the association between migraines and vitamin C (an essential dietary antioxidant). This study assessed the dietary vitamin C intake among adult migraineurs in the United States to determine if there is a correlation between migraine incidence and vitamin C consumption in adults. Methods: This cross-sectional research encompassed adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2004, providing detailed information on their dietary vitamin C intake as well as their history of severe headaches or migraines. The study used weighted multivariable and logistic regression analyses to find an independent connection between vitamin C consumption and severe headache or migraine. Tests of interactions and subgroup analysis were conducted. Results: Among the 13,445 individuals in the sample, 20.42% had a severe headache or migraine. In fully adjusted models, dietary vitamin C consumption was substantially linked negatively with severe headache or migraine (odds ratio [OR] = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91-0.98, p = 0.0007). Compared to quartile 1, quartile 4 had 22% fewer odds of having a severe headache or migraine (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.69-0.89, p = 0.0002). Subgroup analyses showed a significant difference between vitamin C intake and severe headaches or migraines by gender (p for interaction < 0.01). Conclusion: Reduced risk of severe headaches or migraines may be associated with increased consumption of vitamin C.

Ascorbate insufficiency disrupts glutamatergic signaling and alters electroencephalogram phenotypes in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Clinical studies have reported that increased epileptiform and subclinical epileptiform activity can be detected in many patients with an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis using electroencephalogram (EEG) and this may correlate with poorer cognition. Ascorbate may have a specific role as a neuromodulator in AD as it is released concomitantly with glutamate reuptake following excitatory neurotransmission. Insufficiency may therefore result in an exacerbated excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in neuronal signaling. Using a mouse model of AD that requires dietary ascorbate (Gulo-/-APPswe/PSEN1dE9), EEG was recorded at baseline and during 4 weeks of ascorbate depletion in young (5-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) animals. Data were scored for changes in quantity of spike trains, individual spikes, sleep-wake rhythms, sleep fragmentation, and brainwave power bands during light periods each week. We found an early increase in neuronal spike discharges with age and following ascorbate depletion in AD model mice and not controls, which did not correlate with brain amyloid load. Our data also show more sleep fragmentation with age and with ascorbate depletion. Additionally, changes in brain wave activity were observed within different vigilance states in both young and aged mice, where Gulo-/-APPswe/PSEN1dE9 mice had shifts towards higher frequency bands (alpha, beta, and gamma) and ascorbate depletion resulted in shifts towards lower frequency bands (delta and theta). Microarray data supported ascorbate insufficiency altering glutamatergic transmission through the decreased expression of glutamate related genes, however no changes in protein expression of glutamate reuptake transporters were observed. These data suggest that maintaining optimal brain ascorbate levels may support normal brain electrical activity and sleep patterns, particularly in AD patient populations where disruptions are observed.

Variations in photoperiods and their impact on yield, photosynthesis and secondary metabolite production in basil microgreens.

BACKGROUND: The effects of different photoperiods on plant phytochemical synthesis can be improved by adjusting the daily light integral. Photoperiod is one of the most important environmental factors that control growth, plant's internal rhythm and the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Information about the appropriate standard in terms of photoperiod for growing basil microgreens as one of the most important medicinal plants is limited. In this study, the effects of five different photoperiods, 6 (6 h × 3 cycles), 8 (8 h × 2 cycles), 16, 18, and 24 h day- 1 on the yield, photosynthesis and synthesis of secondary metabolites of three cultivars and one genotype of basil microgreens in floating system were evaluated. The purpose of this research was to determine the feasibility of using permanent light in growing basil microgreens and to create the best balance between beneficial secondary metabolites and performance. RESULTS: The results showed that the effects of photoperiod and cultivar on all investigated traits and their interaction on photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds, proline content and net photosynthesis rate were significantly different at the 1% level. The highest levels of vitamin C, flavonoids, anthocyanins, yield and antioxidant potential composite index (APCI) were obtained under the 24-h photoperiod. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained for the Kapoor cultivar, and the highest total phenolic compound and proline contents were measured for the Ablagh genotype under a 24-h photoperiod. The highest yield (4.36 kg m- 2) and APCI (70.44) were obtained for the Ablagh genotype. The highest nitrate content was obtained with a photoperiod of 18 h for the Kapoor cultivar. The highest net photosynthesis rate was related to the Violeto cultivar under a 24-hour photoperiod (7.89 µmol CO2 m- 2 s- 1). Antioxidant capacity and flavonoids had a positive correlation with phenolic compounds and vitamin C. Yield had a positive correlation with antioxidant capacity, flavonoids, vitamin C, APCI, and proline. CONCLUSIONS: Under continuous light conditions, basil microgreens resistance to light stress by increasing the synthesis of secondary metabolites and the increase of these biochemical compounds made basil microgreens increase their performance along with the increase of these health-promoting compounds. The best balance between antioxidant compounds and performance was achieved in continuous red + blue light. Based on these results, the use of continuous artificial LED lighting, due to the increase in plant biochemical with antioxidant properties and yield, can be a suitable strategy for growing basil microgreens in floating systems.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Hypertension: The Insight into Antihypertensive Properties of Vitamins A, C and E.

Hypertension stands as a pervasive global health challenge, contributing significantly to mortality rates worldwide. Various factors, including lifestyle choices and dietary habits, contribute to the development of hypertension. In recent years, oxidative stress has garnered significant attention as a factor influencing hypertension risk, prompting a shift in research focus towards exploring it as a potential target for prevention and treatment. Antioxidants found in our diet, such as vitamins C, E and carotenoids exhibit the ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species, thereby mitigating oxidative stress. In addition, Vitamin A has an antioxidant effect despite not being an antioxidant itself. Consequently, supplementation or increased intake of these antioxidants has been hypothesized to potentially lower blood pressure levels and aid in the management of hypertension, thereby potentially prolonging life expectancy. Research findings regarding this effect have been diverse. This paper examines the existing literature demonstrating favorable outcomes associated with antioxidant supplementation.

The Use of Ascorbic Acid in Adjunctive Treatment for Schizophrenia-Current State of Knowledge.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by disturbances in the perception of reality, thinking, emotions, and social functioning. This significantly impacts the quality of life of patients and leads to long-term disability. Despite advances in understanding its pathogenesis and treatment, schizophrenia remains a clinical challenge, especially due to the diversity of its symptoms and the complexity of its mechanisms. Schizophrenia is associated with abnormal functioning of the dopaminergic system, disturbances in glutamatergic neurotransmission, and oxidative stress in the brain. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in optimizing the treatment of mental disorders. The potential use of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, in the therapy of schizophrenia could bring substantial benefits to patients. Ascorbic acid exhibits antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, suggesting its potential efficacy in reducing brain oxidative stress and improving neurotransmission. Additionally, there have been reports of its positive effects on psychotic symptoms and its potential in reducing the side effects of antipsychotic drugs. In this review article, we present the current state of knowledge on the potential use of ascorbic acid in the treatment of schizophrenia as an adjunct to standard pharmacological therapy. We analyze existing clinical studies and the mechanisms of action of vitamin C, suggesting its promising role as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia. These insights, though not yet widely disseminated, may be significant for the further development of therapeutic strategies for this mental illness.

Dietary nanocomposite of vitamin C and vitamin E enhanced the performance of Nile tilapia.

Nowadays, nanomaterials enter high numbers of daily used products and drug manufacture. A nanocomposite of vitamins C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) with chitosan as a vehicle and protector was used in a comparative eight-week feeding study, Nile tilapia weighing 31.2 ± 0.36 g distributed in seven groups and fed (G1) basal diet, (G2) bulk VC, (G3) VC- nanoparticles (NPs), (G4) bulk VE, (G5) VE-NPs, bulk VCE (G6), and (G7) VC plus VE (VCE)-NPs, respectively. The Nile tilapia-fed nanocomposite vitamins had significantly higher growth performance compared to the control; VCE-NPs had the superiority among tested supplementations where total weight gain (63.6 g), daily weight gain (1.13 g), relative growth rate (206.1%) with lower feed conversion rate (1.6) and insignificant feed intake (101.5 g). Overall, the level of liver enzymes was significantly decreased in fish serum after eight-week nanocomposite supplementation, and dietary VCE-NPs caused a significant reduction of serum AST (18.45 IU/L) and ALT (14.77 IU/L) compared to the control 25.5 IU/L and 17.6 IU/L, respectively. Fish fed dietary VCE-NPs, VC-NPs, and VE-NPs had significant enhancement of RBCs 4.2 × 106/µL, 3.8 × 106/µL, and 3.55 × 106/µL; WBCs 46.15 × 103, 42.9 × 103, and 44 × 103/µL, respectively, Also TP was significantly higher 6.38 g/dL in VCE-NPs group compared to the control and the other treatments. Over all, the dietary nanocomposite vitamins boost the innate immunity of the experimental Nile tilapia, the oxidative burst activity (OBA), phagocytic activity (PA), phagocytic index (PI), and serum antibacterial (SAA) were significantly increased compared to those received bulk vitamins and the control. The activity of antioxidant biomarkers in fish serum including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione reductase (GR), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) showed a rise in the serum of Nile tilapia received nano- and bulk-form of VC and VCE compared to the control and both forms of VE. Furthermore, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were significantly increased in the fish serum following the trend of antioxidants enzymes. In conclusion, a dietary nanocomposite of vitamin C and vitamin E enhanced Nile tilapia's growth performance and feed utilization. It could also improve health status and immune response. The values of antioxidant biomarkers indicated that the nanocomposite could help the fish body scavenge the generated reactive oxidative species (ROS).

Role of Dietary Antioxidant Supplements in Male Infertility: A Review.

Infertility, which affects around 70 million couples globally, is the inability to conceive after at least a year of continuous, unprotected sexual activity. Male-related elements are involving half of all infertility cases globally. Male infertility has various characteristics, including oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of antioxidant-rich food supplements on the properties of semen, like concentration of sperm, morphology, motility, fertility rate, and damage of DNA. Terms such as coenzyme Q10, antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, male infertility, selenium and others, were used to search for relevant research papers in the PubMed database. The findings of this study demonstrated beneficial improvements in semen parameters among infertile men who consumed dietary supplements, particularly combining antioxidants like coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

Association between rheumatoid arthritis and serum vitamin C levels in Adults: Based on the National health and Nutrition Examination survey database.

This study attempted to investigate relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and serum vitamin C levels using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The NHANES database aims to collect health, nutrition, biological, and behavioral data from a nationally representative sample of the population. This study utilizes NHANES data from three cycles: 2003-2004, 2005-2006, and 2017-2018, extracting data on the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and serum vitamin C levels. A generalized linear model is used to evaluate the association between the two. A total of 12,665 participants were included in the final analysis. Serum vitamin C levels were significantly higher in the non-rheumatoid arthritis group compared to the rheumatoid arthritis group (0.63 vs. 0.59, P = 0.042). Generalized linear model analysis showed that higher serum vitamin C levels were associated with a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 0.62, 95 %CI: 0.40-0.98, P = 0.034). Stratified analysis revealed a significant interaction between non-hypertensive individuals and rheumatoid arthritis with serum vitamin C levels (P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, serum vitamin C levels remained significantly associated with rheumatoid arthritis in all models (P < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline results indicated that serum vitamin C levels above 0.95 mg/dL could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. Increasing dietary vitamin C intake through supplementation was found to raise serum vitamin C levels. There was a significant association between rheumatoid arthritis and serum vitamin C levels, indicating that high levels of serum vitamin C may be a protective factor against rheumatoid arthritis.

Increased Vitamin C Intake Is Associated With Decreased Pancreatic Cancer Risk.

Background: Patients with pancreatic cancer have an unfavorable 5-year survival rate of approximately 3% due to diagnosis occurring at advanced stages. Prior research has proposed vitamin C may have a therapeutic and preventative role in pancreatic cancer. Methods: A Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant national database was utilized to assess pancreatic cancer risk in patients with or without a history of vitamin C intake. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes were used, specifically the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) and International Classification of Diseases, Nineth Edition (ICD-9), between January 2010 and December 2020. Patients were matched, and statistical analyses were implemented. Chi-squared, logistic regression, and odds ratio were used to test for significance and to estimate relative risk. Results: A total of 83,941 patients were identified as utilizing prescribed vitamin C. Subsequent matching by Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score and age resulted in two groups of 50,384 patients. The incidence of pancreatic cancer was 243 (0.48%) in the group with a history of vitamin C intake compared to 442 (0.88%) in the control group. The difference was statistically significant by P < 3.174 × 10-14 with an odds ratio of 0.548 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.468 - 0.641). Overall, patients without vitamin C prescription had an increased prevalence of pancreatic cancer throughout all ages and regions of the United States when compared to those with a vitamin C prescription. In addition, healthcare costs were higher in total for the control group when compared to the experimental group. Conclusions: This retrospective cohort study found a statistically significant correlation between vitamin C and subsequent incidence of pancreatic cancer. Further studies are recommended to explore vitamin C's redox and cofactor activity in the context of preventing and possibly treating pancreatic cancer, as well as consider pancreatic cancer lifestyle risk factors such as smoking.

Scurvy in a Child Presenting With a Limp and Elevated Inflammatory Markers: A Case Report.

Scurvy is a rare diagnosis in resource-rich countries, but cases have been documented in the United States in special populations of pediatric patients at increased risk of micronutrient deficiency such as those with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, or eating disorders. We discuss a seven-year-old female with autism spectrum disorder who presented with a limp and refusal to ambulate and elevated inflammatory markers on initial laboratory evaluation. Given her highly selective diet and malnutrition, we made a provisional diagnosis of scurvy and started treatment-dose vitamin C, which led to a significant improvement in her ambulatory function. Plasma vitamin C was ultimately undetectable. She was discharged with vitamin C supplementation and referred to a feeding clinic to address her malnutrition and selective eating.

A blend of chitosan-vitamin C and vitamin E nanoparticles robust the immunosuppressed- status in Nile tilapia treated with salt.

In aquaculture, fish are exposed to many stressors, such as climate changes and infectious diseases that affect their performance, immunity, and welfare. Freshwater fish subjected to salt bath become exhausted and stressed. In this experiment, Nile tilapia were exposed to a salt bath at a dose of 30 ppt for 30 min a day. Vitamin C and vitamin E are well-known antioxidants that are used in aquaculture. Fish received dietary nanoparticles of chitosan-vitamin C and chitosan-vitamin E (CCE-NPs) for different periods (7 and 14 days) pre- (G2) and post-salt treatment (G3). In the control fish (G1), cortisol 5.44 µg/dL and glucose 91.67 mg/dL were significantly up-regulated post-salt treatment by 1 h and 24 h, respectively, whereas those (G2) fed CCE-NPs diet had significantly lower values of 4.72 and 3.25 µg/dL; 86.3 and 84.3 mg/dL, respectively. A rapid decrease of glucose 68.3 and 66.3 mg/dL was noticed in those (G2) fed CCE-NPs diet compared to the control 84.67 mg/dL at 48 h post-stress. Regardless of the supplementation period, fish (G2) could partially restore normal food reflex at 48 h (post-salt bath) and fully restored at 72 h compared to 7 days in the control (G1). After 48 h, fish that received dietary CCE-NPs (G2 and G3) restored normal mucus lysozyme levels, whereas the control did not restore pre-treatment values till the seventh day. Mucus antibacterial activity, fish received rapid dietary CCE-NPs (G2) and partially restored average values (pre-salt bath) at 96 h. The salt treatment could provoke gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis (TNF)-α in the head kidney of fish at 24 h post-salt bath to 5.9-8.35 fold-change, respectively, with a rapid decline in fish (G2) the gene expression. Post-salt bath (24 h), the gene expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) was higher in fish (G2) than in the control group (G1) regardless of the supplementation period (7 and 14 days). Bacterial infection S. agalactiae (OL471408), a significantly lower MR was recorded in G2 at 40% and 33.3% compared to the control G1 MR (53.3%), with an RPL of 24.95% and 37.5%. In conclusion, Nile tilapia treated with a 30 ppt salt became more vulnerable to S. agalactiae. Adding CCE-NPs to the Nile tilapia diet for 7- and 14-day pre-salt bath could increase immune and antioxidant-related gene expression to counteract S. agalactiae infection.