Vitamin C from Bench to Bedside

Vitamin C is the L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid, which cannot be synthesized in the human body, but it is found in many fruits and vegetables. It is widely used as a dietary supplement, alone or in combination with other vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C is well-known for its numerous beneficial effects on the organism, including potent antioxidant activity, improvement of the innate and adaptive immune system, and antimicrobial and antiviral effects. Vitamin C has essential roles in the body, participating in the metabolism of some amino acids (methionine, lysine, glycine), in the enzymatic synthesis of some neurotransmitters, and as a co-factor in the activity of various enzymes. It is also involved in the protection of the cell, in catecholamine production, in the synthesis of collagen, and in tissue repair processes.



Through this Research Topic, we would like to deepen various aspects regarding the involvement of vitamin C in the physio-pathological mechanisms of some diseases, as well as the possibilities of prevention and therapy of some functional and structural disturbances in the body. Starting from the finding of the existence of some correlations between the severity of some pathological conditions (infections, critical illnesses), and vitamin C deficiency, we want to explore the advantages of supplementation with this nutrient, as well as to decipher the involved mechanisms, mediators, enzyme systems, and to reveal some possible markers for assessing the evolution of these diseases.



Various other aspects could be targeted, such as those related to the protective role of vitamin C on the epigenetic disturbances of hematopoietic stem cells, the connection with the development and evolution of serious hematological diseases, and the possibility of potentiating the pharmacodynamics effects of cytostatic medication on the slowing down the malignant process progression. We would like to encourage researchers interested in this topic to disseminate the results of experiments carried out on laboratory animals, in vitro investigations, but also of clinical studies on the benefits and side effects that may occur when using vitamin C.



We welcome researchers to provide original research articles, as well as review or systematic review articles, focusing on multiple issues about the involvement of vitamin C in the pathophysiology of various diseases, the pharmacodynamics effects on different animal models of pathological conditions, the evidence of its clinical benefits, as well as recommendations for prophylactic and therapeutic use.