ascorbic-acid and Communicable-Diseases

Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans, with pleiotropic functions related to its ability to donate electrons. It is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for a family of biosynthetic and gene regulatory enzymes. Vitamin C contributes to immune defense by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system. Vitamin C supports epithelial barrier function against pathogens and promotes the oxidant scavenging activity of the skin, thereby potentially protecting against environmental oxidative stress. Vitamin C accumulates in phagocytic cells, such as neutrophils, and can enhance chemotaxis, phagocytosis, generation of reactive oxygen species, and ultimately microbial killing. It is also needed for apoptosis and clearance of the spent neutrophils from sites of infection by macrophages, thereby decreasing necrosis/NETosis and potential tissue damage. The role of vitamin C in lymphocytes is less clear, but it has been shown to enhance differentiation and proliferation of B- and T-cells, likely due to its gene regulating effects. Vitamin C deficiency results in impaired immunity and higher susceptibility to infections. In turn, infections significantly impact on vitamin C levels due to enhanced inflammation and metabolic requirements. Furthermore, supplementation with vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Prophylactic prevention of infection requires dietary vitamin C intakes that provide at least adequate, if not saturating plasma levels (i.e., 100-200 mg/day), which optimize cell and tissue levels. In contrast, treatment of established infections requires significantly higher (gram) doses of the vitamin to compensate for the increased inflammatory response and metabolic demand.

Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Communicable Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Immune System; Immunity, Innate; Leukocytes; Wound Healing

As explained in the first part of the article, vitamins and trace elements influence various metabolic functions that are directly related to immune function. In this context, secosteroid vitamin D has met with growing interest. The discussion has focused on whether and, if so, to what extent, vitamin D might contribute to the prevention and possibly the treatment of infections and autoimmune diseases. We know, for instance, that immune cells are capable of synthesizing calcitriol from its precursor calcidiol, whereby the former enhances the synthesis of antibacterial peptides by macrophages while simultaneously inhibiting the (auto)immune response mediated by T helper cells (Th1). Numerous observational studies support the hypothesis that a vitamin D deficit increases the risk of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis; however, there are few reliable interventional studies to date. In general, immune status represents a sensitive indicator of micronutrient supply. Conversely, the activity of the immune system has an effect on the status of and requirements for nutrients.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Autoimmunity; Communicable Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Ergocalciferols; Humans; Immune System; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Signal Transduction; Vitamin D Deficiency

As elements of the antioxidant system, cofactors of enzymes, components of transcription factors, and epigenetic modulators, micronutrients, such as vitamins and trace elements, influence various metabolic processes that are directly associated with immune functions. Specifically, the vitamins C and D have been shown to have significance immune function. Therefore, the objective of this review is to elucidate interactions between micronutrients and the immune system. In the initial section of this review, we present a general overview of interactions between the immune system and micronutrients, with a focus on the immunobiologically relevant functions of vitamin C. Immune competent cells accumulate vitamin C against a concentration gradient, with a close relationship between vitamin C supply and immune cell activity, especially phagocytosis activity and T-cell function. Accordingly, one of the consequences of vitamin C deficiency is impaired resistance to various pathogens, while an enhanced supply increases antibody activity and infection resistance.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Communicable Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Ergocalciferols; Humans; Immune System; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Signal Transduction

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; C-Reactive Protein; Child; Common Cold; Communicable Diseases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunocompetence; Immunoglobulins; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Micronutrients; Nutritional Requirements; Phagocytosis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vitamin D; Vitamin E

Histamine plays an important role in the development of symptoms in allergic, infectious, neoplastic and other diseases. Empirical findings have suggested beneficial effects of ascorbic acid supplementation in those diseases, and these effects are assumed to be related to a possible decrease in systemic histamine concentration. In the present study, we systematically investigated for the first time the effect of 7.5 g of intravenously administered ascorbic acid on serum histamine levels (as detected by ELISA) in 89 patients (19 with allergic and 70 with infectious diseases). When all patients were grouped together, there was a significant decline in histamine concentration from 0.83 to 0.57 ng/ml×m2 body surface area (BSA, p<0.0001). The decrease in serum histamine concentration in patients with allergic diseases (1.36 to 0.69 ng/ml×m2 BSA, p=0.0007) was greater than that in patients with infectious diseases (0.73 to 0.56 ng/ml×m2 BSA, p=0.01). Furthermore, the decline in histamine concentration after ascorbic acid administration was positively correlated with the basal, i.e. pre-therapeutic, histamine concentration. Intravenous infusion of ascorbic acid clearly reduced histamine concentrations in serum, and may represent a therapeutic option in patients presenting with symptoms and diseases associated with pathologically increased histamine concentration.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Female; Histamine; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult

To determine the impact of a trace element and vitamin supplementation on infectious morbidity, a double-blind controlled trial was performed on 81 elderly subjects in a geriatric center during a 2-year period. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups, and received daily: placebo; trace elements/zinc 20 mg; selenium 100 micrograms); vitamins (vitamin C 120 mg; beta-carotene 6 mg; alpha-tocopherol 15 mg); or a combination of trace elements and vitamins at equal doses. (1) Before supplementation, low serum values in vitamin C, folate, zinc and selenium were observed in more than two thirds of the patients. (2) After 6 months of supplementation, a significant increase in vitamin and trace element serum levels was obtained in the corresponding treatment groups: a plateau was then observed for the whole study. (3) Subjects who received trace elements (zinc and selenium) alone or associated with vitamins had significantly less infectious events during the 2 years of supplementation. These results indicate that supplementation with low doses of vitamins and trace elements is able to rapidly correct corresponding deficiencies in the institutionalized elderly. Moreover, zinc and selenium reduced infectious events.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analysis of Variance; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Body Mass Index; Cholesterol; Communicable Disease Control; Communicable Diseases; Creatinine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Food, Fortified; France; Humans; Incidence; Male; Micronutrients; Nutritional Requirements; Selenium; Serum Albumin; Vitamin E; Zinc

Topics: Adolescent; Anemia, Hypochromic; Ascorbic Acid; Calcium; Child; Child, Preschool; Cobalt; Communicable Diseases; Copper; Humans; Infant; Iron; Liver Extracts; Manganese; Phosphates; Vitamin B Complex

Consideration of nine major factors predisposing to cerebral thrombosis, coronary thrombosis or thrombosis in the deep veins of the calf, reveals that these factors all have one thing in common. Estrogen administration, pregnancy, ageing, smoking, infection, trauma, surgery, soft water and winter season are all associated with a tendency towards decreased plasma ascorbic acid levels. Normally, ascorbic acid deficiency is thought of as causing a tendency towards hemorrhage rather than thrombosis, but it is here suggested that petechial hemorrhages under the endothelium of the blood vessels may precipitate thrombosis on the damaged endothelium. Is not blood coagulation the normal mechanism for the arrest of hemorrhage?

Topics: Age Factors; Ascorbic Acid; Cardiovascular Diseases; Communicable Diseases; Contraceptives, Oral; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Seasons; Smoking; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Water Supply; Wounds and Injuries

Topics: Adrenal Insufficiency; Ascorbic Acid; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Blood Circulation; Communicable Diseases; Cortisone; Desoxycorticosterone; Encephalitis; Flavonoids; Humans; Liver; Pathology; Pulmonary Edema; Rutin; Water-Electrolyte Balance

Topics: Ammonium Compounds; Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Glucuronates; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Lipotropic Agents; Niacin; Niacinamide; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Bilirubin; Blood; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Viral Vaccines

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Child; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Infant; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Cholera; Communicable Diseases; Glutathione; Humans; Meningitis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Smallpox; Variola virus; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Mental Disorders; Staphylococcal Infections; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Bacillus; Communicable Diseases; Dysentery; Dysentery, Bacillary; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Guinea Pigs; Parasitic Diseases; Shigella dysenteriae

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Sulfonamides; Tetracycline; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Child; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Infant; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Child; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Infant; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Brain; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Nervous System; Neurochemistry; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Child; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Infant; Vitamins

Topics: Acute Disease; Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Respiratory System; Respiratory Tract Infections; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Bacillus; Communicable Diseases; Dysentery; Dysentery, Bacillary; Guinea Pigs; Parasitic Diseases; Shigella dysenteriae

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Blood; Communicable Diseases; Dehydroascorbic Acid; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Disease Control; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Occupational Health; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Aminosalicylic Acid; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Humans; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Iron; Vitamins