• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Previously, we reported that vitamin C facilitates the CpG demethylation of Foxp3 enhancer in $CD4^+Foxp3^+$ regulatory T cells (Tregs) by enhancing the activity of a DNA demethylase ten-eleven-translocation (Tet). However, it is not clear whether vitamin C affects other helper T cell lineages like T helper type 17 (Th17) cells which are related with Tregs. Here, we show that the expression of interleukin-17A (IL17) increases with the treatment of vitamin C but not with other antioxidants. Interestingly, the upregulation of IL17 was not accompanied by DNA demethylation in Il17 promoter and was independent of Tet enzymes. Rather, vitamin C reduced the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me3) in the regulatory elements of the Il17 locus, and the effects of vitamin C were abrogated by knockdown of jumonji-C domain-containing protein 2 (jmjd2). These results suggest that vitamin C can affect the expression of IL17 by modulating the histone demethylase activity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.693-700
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• 2011

To evaluate the antioxidant effects of vitamin C, vitamin E and sorghum bran, alone or in combination on chicken sausages, 9 kg of chicken thigh meat was prepared. All thigh meat was divided into seven different batches as follows; no antioxidant (CON); vitamin C (VTC), vitamin E (VTE) or sorghum bran (SOR) at 0.02%; or three different combination ratios of vitamin C, vitamin E and sorghum bran at 0.02% (VT2, 2:1:1; VT4, 4:1:1; VT6, 6:1:1). All cooked sausages were stored at $4^{\circ}C$, and six sausages per treatment were used for chemical analysis on five different storage days. As the addition of vitamin E was increased, sausages stored for 10 d had decreased redness; thereby, VTE showed the lowest CIE $a^*$ (p<0.05). Sausages mixed with vitamins and sorghum bran combinations had lower peroxide and free fatty acid values (p<0.05) when compared to sausages without antioxidants. The TBARS were the lowest in sausages containing vitamin C, vitamin E and sorghum bran at 6:1:1 ratio, and they significantly differed to CON, VTC and SOR treatments (p<0.05). Therefore, our results suggest that meat mixed with vitamins and sorghum bran had more antioxidant activity than the meat mixed with only antioxidant vitamins or without antioxidants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1164-1170
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• 2008

In this study, the effects of propolis and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) supplementation in diets were investigated on feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion rate (FCR) and digestibility and on egg production and qualities (weight, mortality, shell thickness) in laying hens exposed to heat stress. A total of 150 Hyline White Leghorn, aged 42 weeks, hens was divided into five groups of 30 hens. Chicks were randomly divided into 1 positive control, 1 control and 3 treatment groups. The chicks were kept in cages in temperature-controlled rooms at $22^{\circ}C$ for 24 h/d (positive control, Thermoneutral, TN group) or $34^{\circ}C$ for 9 h/d from 08.00-17.00 h followed by $22^{\circ}C$ for 15 h (control, heat stress, HS group) and fed a basal diet or basal diet supplemented with vitamin C (250 mg/kg of L- ascorbic acid/kg of diet) or two levels of propolis (2 and 5 g of ethanol extracted propolis/kg of diet). Increased FI (p<0.05) and improvement in FCR (p<0.05), hen day egg (p<0.05) and egg weight (p<0.05) were found in Vitamin C and propolis-supplemented laying hens reared under heat stress conditions. Mortality rate was higher in the control group than TN, vitamin C and propolis groups (p<0.05). Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract improved with increasing of both dietary vitamin C and propolis (p<0.05). Vitamin C or propolis supplementation did not affect either the percentage shape index, yolk index or haugh unit and albumen index (p>0.05). However, the egg shell thickness and egg shell weight appeared to be increased in Vitamin C and propolis groups in comparison to HS group birds (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of laying hens with anti-oxidants (vitamin C and propolis) can attenuate heat stress-induced oxidative damage. These positive effects were evidenced by increased growth performance and digestibility, improvement of egg shell thickness and egg weight in comparison to non-supplemented birds. Moreover, supplementation with propolis (5 g/kg diet) was the most efficient treatment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2018

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplementation has been suggested to negatively correlate with obesity in humans and other animals. Previous studies, including ours, have demonstrated that a high-fat diet (HFD) induces obesity and related diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Here, we investigated the effects of vitamin C on visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and glucose intolerance in C57BL/6J mice. Mice received a low-fat diet (LFD, 10% kcal fat), HFD (45% kcal fat), or the same HFD supplemented with vitamin C (HFD-VC, 1% w/w) for 15 weeks. Visceral adiposity and glucose intolerance were examined using metabolic measurements, histology, and gene expression analyses. Mice in the HFD-VC supplementation group had reduced body weight, mesenteric fat mass, and mesenteric adipocyte size compared with HFD-fed mice. Vitamin C intake in obese mice also decreased the mRNA levels of lipogenesis-related genes (i.e., stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c) in mesenteric adipose tissues, inhibited hyperglycemia, and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, vitamin C attenuated the HFD-induced increase in the size of pancreatic islets. These results suggest that vitamin C suppresses HFD-induced visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and glucose intolerance in part by decreasing the visceral adipose expression of genes involved in lipogenesis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2015

The present study was conducted to assess the status of vitamin C among healthy young adults in relation to serum antioxidant parameters [glutathione (GSH), thiols, and total antioxidant capacity, (TAC)], and oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrites plus nitrates (NN)]. A prospective study included 200 young adults, and their dietary intake was assessed by using food diaries. Fasting plasma vitamin C, serum levels of GSH, thiols, TAC, MDA, and NN were measured using biochemical assays. It was observed that 38% of the enrolled subjects, n=76, had an adequate dietary intake of vitamin C (ADI group). Meanwhile, 62%, n=124, had a low dietary intake of vitamin C (LDI group) as compared to the recommended dietary allowances. The fasting plasma level of vitamin C was significantly higher in the ADI group as compared to the LDI group. Oxidative stress in the sera of the LDI group was evidenced by depletion of GSH, low thiols levels, impairment of TAC, an elevation of MDA, and increased NN. In the ADI group, positive correlations were found between plasma vitamin C and serum antioxidant parameters (GSH, thiols, and TAC). Meanwhile, the plasma vitamin C was negatively correlated with serum MDA and NN levels. This study reveals a significant increase of oxidative stress status and reduced antioxidant capacity in sera from healthy young adults with low intake of the dietary antioxidant, vitamin C.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 1973

The effect of the temperature and the time of scalding, and the addition of various seasoning on the remaining % of total Vitamin C contained in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was studied and discussed by means of chemical kinetics. The quantitative measurements of total Vitamin C were made by 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH) method with Clinical Electrophotometer (Fisher). The sample spinach contains 39.88mg. % of total vitamin C on the average, and the ratio of oxidized and reduced forms of Vitamin C is 1 : 4.7. When the sample spinach was scalded, the kinetics of the decrease of the remaining total vitamin C. % was observed to follow the first order reactions regardless of the temperatures applied (i,e. 70$^{o}$ , 80$^{o}$ , 90$^{o}$ and 100$^{o}$ ) with half-life range of 2.10 - 1.47 minutes. In the case of the addition of various seasonings, the addition of various seasonings, the kinetics remaining Vitamin C % showed to be the zero order reactions regardless of the kinds of seasonings and storage temperatures. With the addition of seasonings, the stability of Vitamin C was found to be increased in the order table salt+sesame oil+vinegar+soybean sauce, without seasoning, table salt+sesame oil, table salt+sesame oil+soybean sauce.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-112
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of oral vitamin C supplements on blood sugar and serum lipid level(total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein) in non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus. The study design was a non equivalent control group pre-test post-test design. Data for the study were collected from June 24 to August 31, 2001. The ninty-five research subject were assigned to experimental group(51) and control group(44). Vitamin C(3g/day) was given to 51 subjects for 4 weeks. Following a 12h overnight fasting, blood sample was obstaind at baseline and at the end of 4week - supplementation. Blood samples were taken for plasma vitamin C concentration, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c and serum lipid level. The pre-equivalent test was used by Chi-squre, t-test and two group's pre and post experimental differences were analyzed by t-tset to compare with each other. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. The difference between the two groups in plasma vitamin C concentration was significant(t=-12.950, p=.000). 2. The difference between the two groups in fasting blood sugar was significant(t=5.293, p=.000). 3. The difference between the two groups in HbA1c was not significant(t=1.758, p=.082). 4. The difference between the two groups in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL was significant(t=3.786, p=.000 ; t=-5.515, p=.000 ; t= 4.169, p = .000). These results suggest that megadose vitamin C supplementation be effective in lowering fasting blood sugar, serum lipids and increasing plasma vitamin C. Thus dietary measures to increase plasma vitamin C may be on important health strategy for reducing the compliance of diabetic patients.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.574-579
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• 2016

Objectives: Vitamin C has various functions such as antioxidative effect and supporting absorption of iron (Fe). Aim of this present study was to provide vitamin C nutrition information and to briefly evaluate absorption interaction of vitamin C and Fe content of vitamin C emphasized products. Methods: Vitamin C emphasized foods including beverages, cereal, snacks, chocolate products, other cocoa products, and sugary products were examined by HPLC. Fe contents in samples after dry-ashing were examined by ICP. Results: Vitamin C content ranges in various products tested were the following: beverages (n=11) $20.15{\pm}0.08{\sim}845.41{\pm}6.07mg$, cereal (n=11) $52.50{\pm}0.23{\sim}262.50{\pm}0.07mg$, snacks (n=1) $50.00{\pm}0.25mg$, chocolate products (n=1) $311.73{\pm}2.44mg$, other cocoa products (n=1) $311.73{\pm}2.44mg$, other sugary products (n=2) $52.50{\pm}0.23{\sim}262.50{\pm}0.07mg$. Vitamin C (n=27) analysis values ranged from 82 to 450% of the labeled value. Vitamin C content in vitamin C emphasized food (n=6) was estimated 7.7 times~56.6 times more than Fe content. Conclusions: Analyzed samples ranged more than 80% of the labeled value in vitamin C emphasized products, which complied with food labeling regulation. But, beverages (n=3), cereal (n=4), chocolate products (n=1) were 2 times more than the labeled value. To provide accurate nutrition information, food manufactures should supervise nutrition labeling and understand the interactions between nutrients. Also, consumer should decide about the adequate amount of nutrient intake by thoroughly checking nutrition labeling.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 1985

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of excess vitamin E supple-mentation (0.5%) and cholesterol (0.5%) on levels of serum and liver vitamin E and cholesterol in two categories of rats, group A and group B. Rats in group A(45-65g) were fed experimental diets for 3 weeks ( I-C, II-E, III-Ch, IV-ECh). On the other hand rats in group B(45g-65g) were first fed control diet for 3 weeks and then fed experimental diets when they were 100-l20g for the subsequent 3 weeks ( I'-C, II'-E, III'-Ch, & IV'-ECh). The levels of serum vitamin E were higher in vitamin supplemented groups as expected. Dietary cholesterol showed a tendency to lower serum vitamin E levels of vitamin E supplemented groups. Serum cholesterol levels tended to stay in a narrow range showing resistancy to dietary cholesterol and were not affected by vitamin E status. Whereas vitamin E supplementation seemed to lower the levels of hepatic cholesterol in both groups A & B( I-C, I'-C vs II-E, II'-E ), simultaneous supplementation of vitamin E with 0.5% cholesterol appeared to increase further the hepatic cholesterol levels which were already increased by cholesterol feeding ( IV-ECh, IV'-ECh, vs III- Ch, III'-Ch). Hepatic vitamin A levels decreased as rats grew older during the experimental period. Even though vitamin A levels did not differ from each other significantly, excess amount of vitamin E supplementation in group B seemed to show a tendency to decrease the vitamin A storage in liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.963-969
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• 2013

Although it is popularly believed that vitamin C protects cells from various genotoxicants, the degrees and mechanisms of itsprotective actions are not fully understood. In this study, vitamin C's protective effects against various genotoxicants were quantified, together with subsequent analyses on the mechanisms of these protective effects. Comet assay was employed to measure the degree of DNA damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) exposed to five genotoxicants, $H_2O_2$, $HgCl_2$, N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO), and UV-irradiation. In cases cells were treated with $H_2O_2$, $HgCl_2$, and 4NQO together with vitamin C, the damage to DNA decreased to the level of the control group. In cases of UV-irradiation, the protective effect of vitamin C appeared, but did not reach the control levels. Interestingly, vitamin C did not have protective effects against the genotoxicity of MNNG. The degrees of DNA damage of cells treated with vitamin C prior to exposure togenotoxicants were 28~49% lower than those of cells treated with vitamin C after being exposed to genotoxicants. In conclusion, vitamin C had strong antioxidanteffects against genotoxicants by being a primary antioxidant blocking genotoxicity reaching the cells, rather than being a secondary antioxidant acting on post-exposure DNA repair processes. However, vitamin C's protective effects appearto be limited, as there are genotoxicants, such as MNNG, whosegenotoxicityis not affected by vitamin C. Therefore, the results of this study warrant furtherstudies on toxic mechanisms of genotoxicants and their interactions with protective mechanisms of vitamin C.