One of the major cause of degenerative disease, including cancer, is the accumulation of mutations in cells. Thus, if the accumulation of such mutations can be reduced, a measure of protection from these degenerative diseases may be afforded. Vitamin C may be such an agent. However, the dosage of Vitamin C may be critical....protective at low dosages..but deleterios at higher doses.
In a recent study reported in Teratogenesis Carcinog. Mutagen. 22:443-450, 2002 , the effect of exposure to ascorbic acid (vitamin C) after -ray-induced chromosomal damage in cultured human lymphocytes was examined to explore the mechanism by which this antioxidant vitamin protects irradiated cells. Non-irradiated lymphocytes were exposed to increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid (1-100 g/ml) and DNA damage was estimated using chromosomal aberration analysis and the comet assay.
Vitamine C exerted a protective effect from radiation induced chromosomal mutations at a concentration of 1 gram/ml. However, at higher concentrations, 20 grams/ml and 50 grams/ml, the protective effect was reversed. At these higher concentrations, Vitamin C induced chromosomal mutations.
These data suggest that the dose of Vitamin C is critical in determinining whether or not this vitamin is benficial..and , in fact, may be detrimental if too much is incorporated by cells.