A REVIEW ON ANTIOXIDANT VITAMIN C AND ITS IMPACT ON SKIN HEALTH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijms.2025v13i5.55899Keywords:
Skin, Vitamin C, Supplement, Anti-oxidant, ApplicationAbstract
Vitamins are essential nutrients that are required for various biochemical and physiological processes in the body. It is well known that most of the vitamins cannot be synthesized in the body and hence their supplementation in the diet is essential. Vitamin C plays an important role in a number of metabolic functions, including the activation of the vitamin B, folic acid, the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, and the conversion of the amino acid, tryptophan, to the neurotransmitter, serotonin. It is an antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage. It is used as therapeutic agent in many diseases and disorders. Vitamin C protects the immune system, reduces the severity of allergic reactions, and helps to fight off infections. However, the significance and beneficial effect of Vitamin C in respect to human disease such Melanocytes, which are cells that generate the pigment melanin, which gives skin its color and offers some protection from ultraviolet rays, are found in the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, which also provides a waterproof barrier and determines our skin tones, however remains equivocal by Vitamin C.
References
1. Weller RH, John A, Savin J, Dahl M. The Function and Structure of Skin. 5th ed. Massachusetts, MA: Wiley-Blackwell; 2008.
2. Patton KT, Thibodeau GA. Anthony’s Textbook of Anatomy & Physiology. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2012.
3. Blume-Peytavi U, Kottner J, Sterry W, Hodin MW, Griffiths TW, Watson RE, et al. Age-associated skin conditions and diseases: Current perspectives and future options. Gerontologist 2016;56 Suppl 2:S230-42.
4. Zetterstrom R. Nobel Prize 1937 to Albert von Szent-Gyorgyi: Identification of vitamin C as the anti-scorbutic factor. Acta Paediatr 2009;98:915-9.
5. Farris PK. Cosmetical vitamins: Vitamin C. In: Draelos ZD, Dover JS, Alam M, editors. Cosmoceuticals. Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology. 2nd ed. NewYork (NY): Saunders Elsevier; 2009. p. 51-6.
6. Rhie G, Shin MH, Seo JY, Choi WW, Cho KH, Kim KH, et al. Aging- and photoaging-dependent changes of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants in the epidermis and dermis of human skin in vivo. J Invest Dermatol 2001;117:1212-7.
7. Shindo Y, Witt E, Han D, Epstein W, Packer L. Enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in epidermis and dermis of human skin. J Invest Dermatol 1994;102:122-4.
8. McArdle F, Rhodes LE, Parslew R, Jack CI, Friedmann PS, Jackson MJ. UVR-induced oxidative stress in human skin in vivo: Effects of oral vitamin C supplementation. Free Radic Biol Med 2002;33:1355-62.
9. Linster CL, Van Schaftingen E. Vitamin C. Biosynthesis, recycling and degradation in mammals. FEBS J 2007;274:1-22.
10. Williams DJ, Edwards D, Pun S, Chaliha M, Burren B, Tinggi U, et al. Organic acids in Kakadu plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana): The good (ellagic), the bad (oxalic) and the uncertain (ascorbic). Food Res Int 2016;89:237-44.
11. Rodrigues RB, De Menezes HC, Cabral LM, Dornier M, Reynes M. An Amazonian fruit with a high potential as a natural source of vitamin C: The camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia). Fruits 2001;56:345-54.
12. Mezadri T, Villaño D, Fernández-Pachón MS, García-Parrilla MC, Troncoso AM. Antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity in acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruits and derivatives. J Food Compos Anal 2008;21:282-90.
13. Ariharan VN, Kalirajan K, Devi VN, Prasad P. An exotic fruit which forms the new natural source for vitamin-C. Rasayan J Chem 2012;5:356-60.
14. Gull J, Sultana B, Anwar F, Naseer R, Ashraf M, Ashrafuzzaman M. Variation in antioxidant attributes at three ripening stages of guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit from different geographical regions of Pakistan. Molecules 2012;17:3165-80.
15. Vagiri M, Ekholm A, Öberg E, Johansson E, Andersson SC, Rumpunen K. Phenols and ascorbic acid in black currants (Ribes nigrum L.): Variation due to genotype, location, and year. J Agric Food Chem 2013;61:9298-306.
16. Ellong E, Billard C, Adenet S, Rochefort K. Polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C content in tropical fruits and vegetables and impact of processing methods. Food Sci Nutr 2015;6:299-313.
17. Domínguez-Perles R, Mena P, García-Viguera C, Moreno DA. Brassica foods as a dietary source of vitamin C: Areview. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2014;54:1076-91.
18. Martínez S, López M, González-Raurich M, Bernardo Alvarez A. The effects of ripening stage and processing systems on vitamin C content in sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Int J Food Sci Nutr 2005;56:45-51.
19. World Health Organization. Scurvy and its Prevention and Control in Major Emergencies. Geneva (CH): World Health Organization; 1999.
20. Davey MW, Montagu MV, Inzé D, Sanmartin M, Kanellis A, Smirnoff N, et al. Plant L-ascorbic acid: Chemistry, function, metabolism, bioavailability and effects of processing. J Sci Food Agric 2000;80:825-60.
21. Lešková E, Kubíková J, Kováčiková E, Košická M, Porubská J, Holčíková K. Vitamin losses: Retention during heat treatment and continual changes expressed by mathematical models. J Food Compos Anal 2006;19:252-76.
22. Wang J, Law CL, Mujumdar AS. The degradation mechanisms and kinetics of vitamin C in fruits and vegetables during thermal processing. In: Nema PK, Kaur BP, Mujumdar AS, editors. Drying Technologies in Foods. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2018. p. 275-301.
23. Phillips KM, Tarragó-Trani MT, Gebhardt SE, Exler J, Patterson KY, Haytowitz DB, et al. Stability of vitamin C in frozen raw fruit and vegetable homogenates. J Food Compos Anal 2010;23:253-9. 24. Levine M, Rumsey S, Daruwala R, Park J, Wang Y. Criteria and recommendations for vitamin C intake. JAMA 1999;281:1415-23.
25. Padayatty SJ, Levine M. Vitamin C: The known and the unknown and Goldilocks. Oral Dis 2016;22:463-93.
26. Padayatty SJ, Katz A, Wang Y, Eck P, Kwon O, Lee JH, et al. Vitamin C as an antioxidant: Evaluation of its role in disease prevention. J Am Coll Nutr 2003;22:18-35.
27. Gaut JP, Belaaouaj A, Byun J, Roberts LJ 2nd, Maeda N, Frei B, et al. Vitamin C fails to protect amino acids and lipids from oxidation during acute inflammation. Free Radic Biol Med 2006;40:1494-501.
28. Johnston CS, Cox SK. Plasma-saturating intakes of vitamin C confer maximal antioxidant protection to plasma. JAm Coll Nutr 2001;20:623-7.
29. Harrison FE, Dawes SM, Meredith ME, Babaev VR, Li L, May JM. Low vitamin C and increased oxidative stress and cell death in mice that lack the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter SVCT2. Free Radic Biol Med 2010;49:821-9.
30. Wu F, Tyml K, Wilson JX. Ascorbate inhibits iNOS expression in endotoxin- and IFN-γ-stimulated rat skeletal muscle endothelial cells. FEBS Lett 2002;520:122-6.
31. Gęgotek A, Skrzydlewska E. Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of ascorbic acid. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022;11:1993.
32. Darr D, Combs S, Dunston S, Manning T, Pinnell S. Topical vitamin C protects porcine skin from ultraviolet radiation-induced damage. Br J Dermatol 1992;127:247-53.
33. Johnston CS, Cox SK. Plasma-saturating intakes of vitamin C confer maximal antioxidant protection to plasma. J Am Coll Nutr 2001;20:623-7.
34. Podmore ID, Griffiths HR, Herbert KE, Mistry N, Mistry P, Lunec J. Vitamin C exhibits pro-oxidant properties. Nature 1998;392:559.
35. Aronovitch J, Godinger D, Samuni A, Czapski G. Ascorbic acid oxidation and DNA scission catalyzed by iron and copper chelates. Free Radic Res Commun 1987;2:241-58.
36. Blume-Peytavi U, Kottner J, Sterry W, Hodin MW, Griffiths TW, Watson RE, et al. Age-associated skin conditions and diseases: Current perspectives and future options. Gerontologist 2016;56 Suppl 2:S230-42.
37. Puizina-Ivic N. Skin aging. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat 2008;17:47-54.
38. Blume-Peytavi U, Kottner J, Sterry W, Hodin MW, Griffiths TW, Watson RE, et al. Age-associated skin conditions and diseases: Current perspectives and future options. Gerontologist 2016;56 Suppl 2:S230-42.
39. Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: A review. Int J Cosmet Sci 2008;30:87-95.
40. Fenske NA, Lober CW. Structural and functional changes of normal aging skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986;15:571-85.
41. Farage MA, Miller KW, Elsner P, Maibach HI. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: A review. Int J Cosmet Sci 2008;30:87-95.
42. Fenske NA, Lober CW. Structural and functional changes of normal aging skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 1986;15:571-85.
43. Baumann L. Skin ageing and its treatment. J Pathol 2007;211:241-51.
44. Kang S, Fisher GJ, Voorhees JJ. Photoaging: Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. Clin Geriatr Med 2001;17:643-59.
45. El-Domyati M, Attia S, Saleh F, Brown D, Birk DE, Gasparro F, et al. Intrinsic aging vs. photoaging: A comparative histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of skin. Exp Dermatol 2002;11:398-405.
46. Monnat RJ Jr. “…Rewritten in the skin”: Clues to skin biology and aging from inherited disease. J Invest Dermatol 2015;135:1484-90.
47. Rinnerthaler M, Bischof J, Streubel MK, Trost A, Richter K. Oxidative stress in aging human skin. Biomolecules 2015;5:545-89.
48. Naylor EC, Watson RE, Sherratt MJ. Molecular aspects of skin ageing. Maturitas 2011;69:249-56.
49. Baumann L. Skin ageing and its treatment. J Pathol 2007;211:241-51.
50. Chen L, Hu JY, Wang SQ. The role of antioxidants in photoprotection: A critical review. J Am Acad Dermatol 2012;67:1013-24.
51. DeBuys HV, Levy SB, Murray JC, Madey DL, Pinnell SR. Modern approaches to photoprotection. Dermatol Clin 2000;18:577-90.
52. Kang S, Fisher GJ, Voorhees JJ. Photoaging: Pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. Clin Geriatr Med 2001;17:643-59.
53. Podda M, Traber MG, Weber C, Yan LJ, Packer L. UV-irradiation depletes antioxidants and causes oxidative damage in a model of human skin. Free Radic Biol Med 1998;24:55-65.
54. Langton AK, Sherratt MJ, Griffiths CE, Watson RE. A new wrinkle on old skin: The role of elastic fibres in skin ageing. Int J Cosmet Sci 2010;32:330-9.
55. Rhie G, Shin MH, Seo JY, Choi WW, Cho KH, Kim KH, et al. Aging- and photoaging-dependent changes of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants in the epidermis and dermis of human skin in vivo. J Invest Dermatol 2001;117:1212-7.
56. Pinnell SR. Cutaneous photodamage, oxidative stress, and topical antioxidant protection. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:1-19; quiz 20-2.
57. Berneburg M, Plettenberg H, Krutmann J. Photoaging of human skin. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2000;16:239-44.
58. Kligman LH, Kligman AM. The nature of photoaging: Its prevention and repair. Photodermatol 1986;3:215-27.
59. Langton AK, Sherratt MJ, Griffiths CE, Watson RE. A new wrinkle on old skin: The role of elastic fibres in skin ageing. Int J Cosmet Sci 2010;32:330-9.
60. Farris PK. Topical vitamin C: A useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatologic conditions. Dermatol Surg 2005;31:814-7; discussion 818.
61. Lin JY, Selim MA, Shea CR, Grichnik JM, Omar MM, Monteiro- Riviere NA, et al. UV photoprotection by combination topical antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:866-74.
62. Miura K, Green AC. Dietary antioxidants and melanoma: Evidence from cohort and intervention studies. Nutr Cancer 2015;67:867-76.
63. Nakamura T, Pinnell SR, Darr D, Kurimoto I, Itami S, Yoshikawa K, et al. Vitamin C abrogates the deleterious effects of UVB radiation on cutaneous immunity by a mechanism that does not depend on TNF-alpha. J Invest Dermatol 1997;109:20-4.
64. Eberlein-Konig B, Placzek M, Przybilla B. Protective effect against sunburn of combined systemic ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and d-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:45-8.
65. Kameyama K, Sakai C, Kondoh S, Yonemoto K, Nishiyama S, Tagawa M, et al. Inhibitory effect of magnesium L-ascorbyl-2- phosphate (VC-PMG) on melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996;34:29-33.
66. Matsuda S, Shibayama H, Hisama M, Ohtsuki M, Iwaki M. Inhibitory effects of a novel ascorbic derivative, disodium isostearyl 2-O-L-ascorbyl phosphate on melanogenesis. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2008;56:292-7.
67. Ando H, Kondoh H, Ichihashi M, Hearing VJ. Approaches to identify inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis via the quality control of tyrosinase. J Invest Dermatol 2007;127:751-61.
68. Kameyama K, Sakai C, Kondoh S, Yonemoto K, Nishiyama S, Tagawa M, et al. Inhibitory effect of magnesium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate (VC-PMG) on melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996;34:29-33.
69. Puizina-Ivic N. Skin aging. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat 2008;17:47-54.
70. Craven NM, Watson RE, Jones CJ, Shuttleworth CA, Kielty CM, Griffiths CE. Clinical features of photodamaged human skin are associated with a reduction in collagen VII. Br J Dermatol 1997;137:344-50.
71. Sachs DL, Rittie L, Chubb HA, Orringer J, Fisher G, Voorhees JJ. Hypo-collagenesis in photoaged skin predicts response to anti-aging cosmeceuticals. J Cosmet Dermatol 2013;12:108-15.
72. Contet-Audonneau JL, Jeanmaire C, Pauly G. A histological study of human wrinkle structures: Comparison between sun-exposed areas of the face, with or without wrinkles, and sun-protected areas. Br J Dermatol 1999;140:1038-47.
73. Pinnell SR. Cutaneous photodamage, oxidative stress, and topical antioxidant protection. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:1-19; quiz 20-2.
74. Lee WR, Shen SC, Wu KH, Hu CH, Fang JY. Lasers and microdermabrasion enhance and control topical delivery of vitamin C. J Invest Dermatol 2003;121:1118-25.
75. Ebihara M, Akiyama M, Ohnishi Y, Tajima S, Komata K, Mitsui Y. Iontophoresis promotes percutaneous absorption of L-ascorbic acid in rat skin. J Dermatol Sci 2003;32:217-22.
76. Lin FH, Lin JY, Gupta RD, Tournas JA, Burch JA, Angelica Selim M, et al. Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin. J Invest Dermatol 2005;125:826-32.
77. McArdle F, Rhodes LE, Parslew R, Jack CI, Friedmann PS, Jackson MJ. UVR-induced oxidative stress in human skin in vivo: Effects of oral vitamin C supplementation. Free Radic Biol Med 2002;33:1355-62.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2025 PRIYANKA BEHERA, ADITI SHARMA, SUBHAM BISWAL, SUCHETA MOHARANA, PRASANTA KUMAR BISWAL, BIPIN B PANDA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
