Vitamin C And Immunity
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans, which cannot be synthesized by humans due to loss of a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway. Research over the past 50 years has shown that vitamin C is a crucial player in various aspects of the immune system, particularly immune cell function.
Vitamin C has a number of activities that could conceivably contribute to its immune modulating effects. It is a highly effective antioxidant, due to its ability to readily donate electrons, thus protecting important biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) from damage by oxidants generated during normal cell metabolism and through
exposure to toxins and pollutants (e.g., cigarette smoke).