Vitamin C inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and delays the development of age-related hearing loss in male C57BL/6 mice.

The efficacy of vitamin C in age-related hearing loss, i.e., presbycusis, remains debatable. On a separate note, inflammation induced by the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in the progression of presbycusis. In this study, we investigated the effect of vitamin C on male C57BL/6 mice's presbycusis and NLRP3 inflammasome. The results showed that vitamin C treatment improved hearing, reduced the production of inflammatory factors, inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and decreased cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the C57BL/6 mouse cochlea, inferior colliculus, and auditory cortex. According to this study, vitamin C protects auditory function in male C57BL/6 presbycusis mice through reducing mtDNA release, inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the auditory pathway. Our study provides a theoretical basis for applying vitamin C to treat presbycusis.

Vitamin C Supplementation in the Treatment of Autoimmune and Onco-Hematological Diseases: From Prophylaxis to Adjuvant Therapy.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin introduced through the diet with anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, and antioxidant activities. Today, this vitamin is integrated into the treatment of many inflammatory pathologies. However, there is increasing evidence of possible use in treating autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. We reviewed the literature to delve deeper into the rationale for using vitamin C in treating this type of pathology. There is much evidence in the literature regarding the beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation for treating autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and neoplasms, particularly hematological neoplastic diseases. Vitamin C integration regulates the cytokines microenvironment, modulates immune response to autoantigens and cancer cells, and regulates oxidative stress. Moreover, integration therapy has an enhanced effect on chemotherapies, ionizing radiation, and target therapy used in treating hematological neoplasm. In the future, integrative therapy will have an increasingly important role in preventing pathologies and as an adjuvant to standard treatments.

Vitamin C inactivates c-Jun N-terminal kinase to stabilize heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 1 (Hand1) in regulating placentation and maintenance of pregnancy.

Vitamin C (VC) serves as a pivotal nutrient for anti-oxidation process, metabolic responses, and stem cell differentiation. However, its precise contribution to placenta development and gestation remains obscure. Here, we demonstrated that physiological levels of VC act to stabilize Hand1, a key bHLH transcription factor vital for the development trajectory of trophoblast giant cell (TGC) lineages, thereby promoting the differentiation of trophoblast stem cells into TGC. Specifically, VC administration inactivated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, which directly phosphorylates Hand1 at Ser48, triggering the proteasomal degradation of Hand1. Conversely, a loss-of-function mutation at Ser48 on Hand1 not only significantly diminished both intrinsic and VC-induced stabilization of Hand1 but also underscored the indispensability of this residue. Noteworthy, the insufficiency of VC led to severe defects in the differentiation of diverse TGC subtypes and the formation of labyrinth's vascular network in rodent placentas, resulting in failure of maintenance of pregnancy. Importantly, VC deficiency, lentiviral knockdown of JNK or overexpression of Hand1 mutants in trophectoderm substantially affected the differentiation of primary and secondary TGC in E8.5 mouse placentas. Thus, these findings uncover the significance of JNK inactivation and consequential stabilization of Hand1 as a hitherto uncharacterized mechanism controlling VC-mediated placentation and perhaps maintenance of pregnancy.

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.

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.

Modulation of microglia activation by the ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2.

Neuroinflammation is a major characteristic of pathology in several neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia, the brain's resident myeloid cells, shift between activation states under neuroinflammatory conditions, both responding to, but also driving damage in the brain. Vitamin C (ascorbate) is an essential antioxidant for central nervous system function that may have a specific role in the neuroinflammatory response. Uptake of ascorbate throughout the central nervous system is facilitated by the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2). SVCT2 transports the reduced form of ascorbate into neurons and microglia, however the contribution of altered SVCT2 expression to the neuroinflammatory response in microglia is not well understood. In this study we demonstrate that SVCT2 expression modifies microglial response, as shown through changes in cell morphology and mRNA expression, following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in mice with decreased or increased expression of SVCT2. Results were supported by in vitro studies in an immortalized microglial cell line and in primary microglial cultures derived from SVCT2-heterozygous and transgenic animals. Overall, this work demonstrates the importance of SVCT2 and ascorbate in modulating the microglial response to mTBI and suggests a potential role for both in response to neuroinflammatory challenges.

Engineering Gluconbacter oxydans with efficient co-utilization of glucose and sorbitol for one-step biosynthesis of 2-keto-L-gulonic.

As the highest-demand vitamin, the development of a one-step vitamin C synthesis process has been slow for a long time. In previous research, a Gluconobacter oxydans strain (GKLG9) was constructed that can directly synthesize 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KLG) from glucose, but carbon source utilization remained low. Therefore, this study first identified the gene 4kas (4-keto-D-arabate synthase) to reduce the loss of extracellular carbon and inhibit the browning of fermentation broth. Then, promoter engineering was conducted to enhance the intracellular glucose transport pathway and concentrate intracellular glucose metabolism on the pentose phosphate pathway to provide more reducing power. Finally, by introducing the D-sorbitol pathway, the titer of 2-KLG was increased to 38.6 g/L within 60 h in a 5-L bioreactor, with a glucose-to-2-KLG conversion rate of about 46 %. This study is an important step in the development of single-bacterial one-step fermentation to produce 2-KLG.

Understand the Stabilization Engineering of Ascorbic Acid, Mapping the Scheme for Stabilization, and Advancement.

Vitamin C is extensively used in cosmetic formulation, howbeit stability is the supreme demerit that limits its use in beautifying products. Numerous techniques are being employed to inhibit the degradation of vitamin C caused by formulation components to facilitate the use in skin rejuvenating products. Diverse materials are being exercised in formulation to stabilize the ascorbic acid and ingredients selected in this formulation composition help for stabilization. The initial stable prototype is developed and further optimization is accomplished by applying the design of experiment tools. The stable pharmaceutical formulations were evaluated for the evaluation parameters and designated as two optimized formulations. The analytical method for the assay of ascorbic acid from the United States pharmacopeia and the related substance method from European pharmacopeia has been modified to be used for cream formulation. The DoE design exhibited that the stability of formulation is impacted by citric acid and tartaric acid but not by propylene glycol and glycerin. The analysis results of topical formulations for the evaluation parameter exhibited satisfactory results. The in-vitro release study method has been developed, optimized, and validated to fit the analysis. The in-vitro studies have been performed for selected compositions and both the formulation has similar kinds of release patterns. The stability study as per ICH guidelines exhibited that the product is stable for accelerated, intermediate, and room-temperature storage conditions. The optimized formulation shows constant release and permeation of ascorbic acid through the skin. The formulation with the combinations of citric acid, tartaric acid, and tocopherol is more stable and the degradation of vitamin C has been reduced significantly. The beaucoup strategies in the unique composition help to protect the degradation by inhibiting the multitudinous degradation pathways.

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).

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.

Endophytic actinomycetes promote growth and fruits quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum): an approach for sustainable tomato production.

Background: Tomato, a fruit with a high vitamin content, is popular for consumption and economically important in Thailand. However, in the past year, the extensive usage of chemicals has significantly decreased tomato yields. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an alternative that can help improve tomato production system growth and yield quality while using fewer chemicals. The present study aimed to determine whether endophytic actinomycetes promote growth and fruit quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Methods: The experiment was conducted in a net-houses at the Center for Agricultural Resource System Research, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. The randomized completely block design (RCBD) was carried out for four treatments with three replications, which was control, inoculation with TGsR-03-04, TGsL-02-05 and TGsR-03-04 with TGsL-02-05 in tomato plant. Isolated Actinomycetes spp. of each treatment was then inoculated into the root zone of tomato seedlings and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The height of tomato plants was measured at 14, 28, 56, and 112 days after transplanting. Final yield and yield quality of tomato was assessed at the maturity phase. Results: The SEM result illustrated that the roots of tomato seedlings from all treatments were colonized by endophytic actinomycetes species. This contributed to a significant increase in plant height at 14 days after transplanting (DAT), as found in the TGsR-03-04 treatment (19.40 cm) compared to the control. Besides, all inoculated treatments enhanced tomato yield and yield quality. The highest weight per fruit (47.38 g), fruit length (52.37 mm), vitamin C content (23.30 mg 100 g-1), and lycopene content (145.92 µg g-1) were obtained by inoculation with TGsR-03-04. Moreover, the highest yield (1.47 kg plant-1) was obtained by inoculation with TGsL-02-05. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of fruits per plant, fruit width, brix, and antioxidant activity when various inoculations of endophytic actinomycetes were applied. Therefore, the use of endophytic actinomycetes in tomato cultivation may be an alternative to increase tomato yield and yield quality.

Comparative analysis of nutrient composition and antioxidant activity in three dragon fruit cultivars.

Dragon fruit has significant economic value in many countries due to has excellent nutritional content, health advantages, and adaptability to different climates, making it an important crop in the global fruit industry. This study aimed to gather comprehensive nutritional data on three dragon fruit cultivars by analysing the levels of micronutrients, fibre, carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in their pulps. Uniform dragon fruit samples underwent thorough analysis for proximate composition, mineral content, pigments, antioxidants, and vitamin C, with statistical methods used to assess significant differences among the parameters studied. The proximate composition analysis revealed significant differences among the three dragon fruit cultivars. Among the proximate components, protein (0.40 ± 0.02 g/100 g), moisture (91.33 ± 0.88%), crude fibre (0.32 ± 0.07 g/100 g), and ash (1.27 ± 0.09 g/100 g) were more abundant in Hylocereus costaricensis than in Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus megalanthus. On the other hand, Hylocereus undatus had higher carbohydrate (17.02 ± 0.63 g/100 g) and energy (69.74 ± 2.44 kcal/100 g) contents. K (7.23 ± 0.35 mg/100 g), Ca (1.61 ± 0.13 mg/100 g), Fe (1.84 ± 0.05 mg/100 g), and Zn (0.37 ± 0.034 mg/100 g) are highly abundant in H. costaricensis. Additionally, Hylocereus costaricensis had the highest anthocyanin content (120.15 ± 3.29 mg/g FW) and total carotenoid content (72.51 ± 1.62 mg/g FW), along with the highest vitamin C content (8.92 ± 0.13 mg/g FW) and total soluble phenolic content (572.48 ± 20.77 mg/100 g). Its remarkable antioxidant activity was further highlighted by the lowest SC50 value (13.50 ± 0.4 mg/mL) for its DPPH radical scavenging capacity. The total soluble sugar content was highest in Hylocereus megalanthus (8.72 ± 0.30 g/100 g FW). Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed distinct trait and genotype associations; among the studied cultivars, Hylocereus costaricensis demonstrated superior performance across multiple traits. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations among several traits, while principal component analysis highlighted the contribution of each trait to overall variance, with PC1 explaining 73.95% of the total variance. This study highlights the nutritional variations among dragon fruit cultivars, with Hylocereus costaricensis showing superior performance, guiding dietary planning and functional food development.

Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation of Wi-Fi Router on Thyroid Gland and the Possible Protective Role of Combined Vitamin C and Zinc Administration in Adult Male Albino Rats.

Introduction: Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is widely used nowadays in various fields due to rapid expansion of technology and affects different organs such as endocrine glands. Antioxidants protect the cells and act as a free radical scavenger. Aim of Work: The aim of the study was to clarify the effect of EMR emitted from Wi-Fi router on the thyroid gland of adult male albino rats and the possible protective role of combined Vitamin C and zinc. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I (control group), Group II (received combined Vitamin C and Zinc in one tablet called IMMUNO-MASH), and Group III (experimental groups). Group III was divided into two subgroups (A and B) according to the duration of exposure: 6 h and 24 h/day. Each of these groups was divided into two equal subgroups. One was exposed only to EMR while the other was exposed to EMR and received combined Vitamin C and zinc. All rats were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. The thyroid gland was prepared for general histological, anti-calcitonin immunostaining, and ultrastructural study. Furthermore, measurement of total serum T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) hormone levels and quantitative analysis of immunoreactive C-cells were done. Then, statistical analysis was done on the number of immunoreactive C-cells, data of the body weight, and the hormonal levels. Results: A highly significant increase in the body weight in subgroups exposed to EMR for 24 h/day was observed. Furthermore, they showed a highly significant decline in T3 and T4 levels together with a highly significant increase in TSH level. With increasing period of exposure, there was a variable degree of deterioration in the form of congestion and dilatation of blood vessels, cellular infiltration, follicular disintegration, vacuolar degeneration, and desquamated follicular cells in the colloid. The C-cells showed a significant increase in the mean number compared with the control group. Ultrastructural analysis of follicular cells revealed colloid droplets, deteriorations in rough endoplasmic reticulum, degenerating nuclei, and swollen mitochondria according to the dose of exposure. There was apparent improvement with the use of combined Vitamin C and zinc. Conclusion: Wi-Fi radiation has a very serious effect on thyroid gland morphology and activity. Moreover, experimentally induced hypothyroidism by radiation resulted in increased C-cell number. Combined Vitamin C and zinc could have a protective role against this tissue damage.

Farm to Fork Stability of Phytochemicals and Micronutrients in Brassica oleracea and Allium Vegetables.

Brassica oleracea and Allium vegetables are known for their unique, family specific, water-soluble phytochemicals, glucosinolates, and S-alk(en)yl-l-cysteine sulfoxides, respectively. However, they are also important delivery systems of several other health-related compounds, such as carotenoids (lipid-soluble phytochemicals), vitamin C (water-soluble micronutrient), and vitamin K1 (lipid-soluble micronutrient). When all-year-round availability or transport over long distances is targeted for these often seasonal, locally grown vegetables, processing becomes indispensable. However, the vegetable processing chain, which consists of multiple steps (e.g., pretreatment, preservation, storage, preparation), can impact the nutritional quality of these vegetables corresponding to the nature of the health-related compounds and their susceptibility to (bio)chemical conversions. Since information about the impact of the vegetable processing chain is scattered per compound or processing step, this review targets an integration of the state of the art and discusses needs for future research. Starting with a discussion on substrate-enzyme location within the vegetable matrix, an overview is provided of the impact and potential of processing, encompassing a wide range of (nonenzymatic) conversions.

Sequential Pulsed Light and Ultrasound Treatments for the Inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and PPO and the Retention of Bioactive Compounds in Sweet Lime Juice.

Designing a pasteurization con dition for sweet lime juice while ensuring microbial safety, enzymatic stability, and high nutritional quality is crucial for satisfying stakeholder demands. The present research investigates the effects of matrix pH, ultrasound treatments, and sequential pulsed light on the microbial population, enzyme activity, and bioactive chemicals in sweet lime juice. The sequential pulsed light (PL: 0.6-0.84 J/cm2) and ultrasound (US: 0.2-0.4 W/cm3) treatments for sweet lime juice were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A three-factor full factorial design was used for this purpose. The independent variables encompassed pH (X1), PL effective fluence (X2, J/cm2), and US intensity (X3, W/cm3). The responses assessed included the inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Y1, log cfu/mL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO: Y2 in %) and the retention of vitamin C (Y3, %). The polynomial models were optimized using numerical optimization to attain the maximum desirability value (0.89). The optimized PL + US sample (0.8 J/cm2 + 0.4 W/cm3, respectively) at pH 3.5 resulted in a 5-log cycle reduction in S. cerevisiae count and a 90% inactivation in PPO activity and retained 95% of its vitamin C content. This optimized sample underwent further analysis, including phenolic profiling, assessment of microbial cell morphology, and examination of enzyme conformational changes. After sequential pulsed-light (0.8 J/cm2) and ultrasound (0.4 W/cm3) treatments, yeast cells showed unusual structural changes, indicating additional targets besides membranes. Following PL + US treatment, the PPO composition changed to 2.7 ± 0.1% α-helix, 33.9 ± 0.3% ß-sheet, 1.4 ± 0.2% ß-turn, and 62 ± 0.7% random coil. Impressively, the optimized PL + US sample maintained a sensory acceptance level similar to that of the untreated sample.

Continuous Blue Light Treatment Enhances the Nutritional Value of Hydroponically Grown Eruca vesicaria L. by Improving Ascorbic Acid Biosynthesis.

This study investigates the effect of continuous blue light (CBL) treatment on quality-related metabolites, focusing on ascorbic acid (AsA) accumulation in hydroponically grown Eruca vesicaria (L.). Plants were subjected to CBL treatment, consisting of 24-h exposure to constant-intensity blue light (48 µmol m-2 s-1) and 12-h exposure to the remaining spectrum (192 µmol m-2 s-1). The activities of key enzymes in AsA biosynthesis and recycling were analyzed, including L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDh), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDhAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DhAR), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). The results showed a significant increase in AsA accumulation of 65.9% during the "day" and 69.1% during the "night" phases under CBL compared to controls. GalLDh activity increased by 20% during the "day phase" in CBL-treated plants. APX activity also rose significantly under CBL conditions, by 101% during the "day" and 75.6% during the "night". However, this did not affect dehydroascorbic acid levels or the activities of MDhAR and DhAR. These findings highlight the potential of tailored light treatments to enhance the nutraceutical content of horticultural species, offering valuable insights for sustainably improving food quality in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) systems and understanding the roles of blue light in ascorbic acid biosynthesis.

Ionizing Radiation-Induced Oxidative Stress in Computed Tomography-Effect of Vitamin C on Prevention of DNA Damage: PREVIR-C Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol.

Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) is inevitable in various X-ray imaging examinations, with computed tomography (CT) being a major contributor to increased human radiation exposure. Ionizing radiation may cause structural damage to macromolecules, particularly DNA, mostly through an indirect pathway in diagnostic imaging. The indirect pathway primarily involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to water radiolysis induced by IR, leading to DNA damage, including double-strand breaks (DSB), which are highly cytotoxic. Antioxidants, substances that prevent oxidative damage, are proposed as potential radioprotective agents. This Study Protocol article presents the rationale for selecting vitamin C as a preventive measure against CT-associated IR-induced DNA damage, to be investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled trial, with a full in vivo design, using an oral easy-to-use schedule administration in the outpatient setting, for the single CT examination with the highest total global IR dose burden (contrast-enhanced abdomen and pelvis CT). The study also aims to explore the mediating role of oxidative stress, and it has been written in adherence to the Standard Protocol Items recommendations.

Safety of High-Dose Vitamin C in Non-Intensive Care Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: An Open-Label Clinical Study.

Background: Vitamin C has been used as an antioxidant and has been proven effective in boosting immunity in different diseases, including coronavirus disease (COVID-19). An increasing awareness was directed to the role of intravenous vitamin C in COVID-19. Methods: In this study, we aimed to assess the safety of high-dose intravenous vitamin C added to the conventional regimens for patients with different stages of COVID-19. An open-label clinical trial was conducted on patients with COVID-19. One hundred four patients underwent high-dose intravenous administration of vitamin C (in addition to conventional therapy), precisely 10 g in 250 cc of saline solution in slow infusion (60 drops/min) for three consecutive days. At the same time, 42 patients took the standard-of-care therapy. Results: This study showed the safety of high-dose intravenous administration of vitamin C. No adverse reactions were found. When we evaluated the renal function indices and estimated the glomerular filtration rate (eGRF, calculated with the CKD-EPI Creatinine Equation) as the main side effect and contraindication related to chronic renal failure, no statistically significant differences between the two groups were found. High-dose vitamin C treatment was not associated with a statistically significant reduction in mortality and admission to the intensive care unit, even if the result was bound to the statistical significance. On the contrary, age was independently associated with admission to the intensive care unit and in-hospital mortality as well as noninvasive ventilation (N.I.V.) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.41-3.35; OR 7.50, 95% CI 1.97-28.54; OR 8.84, 95% CI 2.62-29.88, respectively). When considering the length of hospital stay, treatment with high-dose vitamin C predicts shorter hospitalization (OR -4.95 CI -0.21--9.69). Conclusions: Our findings showed that an intravenous high dose of vitamin C is configured as a safe and promising therapy for patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.