ABSTRACT
Properties of Ascorbic Acid 257
Nutritional Aspects 259
Ascorbic Acid and Redox Status 260
Ascorbate Recycling 260
Ascorbate Recycling and Metabolism 263
Molecular Functions of Ascorbic Acid 265
Ascorbate Modulation of Collagen Formation 265
Ascorbate Modulation of Cell Differentiation 267
Modulation of Transcription Factors 268
Ascorbate Modulation of Nitric Oxide Production 271
Ascorbate-Induced Modulation of DNA Repair 272
Ascorbate-Induced Modulation of Other Genes 272
Conclusion 273
References 273
PROPERTIES OF ASCORBIC ACID
Ascorbic acid is six carbon lactone structurally related to glucose. Indeed,
glucose provides the starting point of ascorbic acid synthesis in those animals
capable of synthesis. Primates are one of the few mammalian species that lack the
ability to synthesize ascorbic acid, and must therefore obtain ascorbic acid from
the diet. Hence, it is also known as vitamin C. The term ascorbic acid derives
from experiments into the causes of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency disease)
where a “scorbutic factor” was used to describe a substance, later found to be
vitamin C, found in citrus fruits which prevents the onset of scurvy.
