Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Chen Z
PROVIDER: S-EPMC152326 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Chen Zhong Z Young Todd E TE Ling Jun J Chang Su-Chih SC Gallie Daniel R DR
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20030306 6
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential to prevent disease associated with connective tissue (e.g., scurvy), improves cardiovascular and immune cell functions, and is used to regenerate alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). In contrast to most animals, humans lack the ability to synthesize ascorbic acid as a result of a mutation in the last enzyme required for ascorbate biosynthesis. Vitamin C, therefore, must be obtained from dietary sources and, because it cannot be stored in the body, it must be obtai ...[more]