| Slice an apple into half, and it turns brown. A copper | | | | used for cancer treatment. In large doses, Vitamin C |
| penny suddenly becomes green, or an iron nail when | | | | is sometimes administered intravenously as part of |
| left outside, will rust. What do all these events have | | | | cancer treatment. |
| in common? These are examples of a process called | | | | Vitamin C prevents free radical damage in the lungs |
| oxidation. If the sliced apple is dipped in a lemon juice, | | | | and may even help to protect the central nervous |
| however, the rate at which the apple turns brown is | | | | system from such damage. Free radicals are |
| slowed. It is because the Vitamin C in the lemon juice | | | | molecules with an unpaired electron. In this state, |
| slows the rate of oxidative damage. | | | | they're highly reactive and destructive to everything |
| Since its discovery 65 years ago, vitamin C has come | | | | that gets in their way. Although free radicals have |
| to be known as a "wonder worker." Because of its | | | | been implicated in many diseases, they are actually a |
| role in collagen formation and other life-sustaining | | | | part of the body chemistry. |
| functions, Vitamin C serves as a key immune system | | | | As an antioxidant, vitamin C's primary role is to |
| nutrient and a potent free-radical fighter. This | | | | neutralize free radicals. Since ascorbic acid is water |
| double-duty nutrient has been shown to prevent | | | | soluble, it can work both inside and outside the cells |
| many illnesses, from everyday ailments such as the | | | | to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is an |
| common cold to devastating diseases such as cancer. | | | | excellent source of electrons; therefore, it "can |
| The water-soluble vitamin C is known in the scientific | | | | donate electrons to free radicals such as hydroxyl |
| world as ascorbic acid, a term that actually means | | | | and superoxide radicals and quench their reactivity." |
| "without scurvy." We depend on ascorbic acid for | | | | The versatile vitamin C also works along with |
| many aspects of our biochemical functioning; yet | | | | glutathione peroxidase (a major free radical-fighting |
| human beings are among only a handful of animal | | | | enzyme) to revitalize vitamin E, a fat-soluble |
| species that cannot produce their own supply of | | | | antioxidant. In addition to its work as a direct |
| vitamin C. Like these other animals, including primates | | | | scavenger of free radicals in fluids, then, vitamin C |
| and guinea pigs, we have no choice but to obtain this | | | | also contributes to the antioxidant activity in the lipids. |
| nutrient through food or our daily diet. | | | | Optimal health, however, requires a balance between |
| Vitamin C can enhance the body's resistance from | | | | free radical generation and antioxidant protection. |
| different diseases, including infections and certain | | | | One of the functions of Vitamin C is to get and |
| types of cancer. It strengthens and protects the | | | | quench these free radicals before they create too |
| immune system by stimulating the activity of | | | | much damage. |
| antibodies and immune system cells such as | | | | However, there is research to show that vitamin C |
| phagocytes and neutrophils. | | | | may act as a pro-oxidant. In other words, vitamin C, |
| Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, helps reduce the activity | | | | under certain conditions anyway, may act in a |
| of free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of | | | | manner that is opposite to its intended purpose. This |
| normal metabolism which can damage cells and set | | | | has raised concern among thousands of people who |
| the stage for aging, degeneration, and cancer. It | | | | supplement their diets with vitamin C...but that's |
| shouldn't come as any surprise that vitamin C is being | | | | another story. |