Popular Conclusions:
"There is an enormous amount of literature on vitamin C intake and health in animals, cell cultures, and humans. Beyond its function in collagen formation, ascorbic acid is known to increase absorption of inorganic iron, to have essential roles in the metabolism of folic acid and of some amino acids and hormones, and to act as an antioxidant. In recent years, research has increasingly focused on this latter function, stimulated by suggestions that "oxidative stress" may be a causal factor in the etiology of such diverse and important disorders of aging as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and cataract formation. The present evidence is strong enough to have convinced nutritionists that daily vitamin C intake should be many times higher than the amount needed to protect against scurvy, and this is reflected in the present Recommended Dietary Allowances. Suggestions that the recommended levels should be higher still are largely based on extrapolations from results of animal and tissue culture studies. How much ascorbic acid is necessary to achieve in humans the effects seen in animal studies is not clear..."
Nutr Rev 1993 Nov;51(11):313-26: Gershoff SN Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): new roles, new requirements?
"Despite a realisation that antioxidants will not delay ageing
in healthy older people, there is increasing scientific interest in the
role of free radical oxidants in a number of diseases associated with older
age. Evidence to suggest a protective effect from antioxidant vitamins
exists for ischaemic heart disease, cataract and some cancers. Attempts
to influence the outcome of other diseases such as ischaemia-reperfusion
injury, Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis have so far failed
to achieve positive results. Research interest in the field is increasing
although hampered by methodological difficulties and the limited financial
return for drug companies. In the meantime there seems no reason to discourage
older people who wish to ingest extra vitamin E and vitamin C"
Aust Fam Physician 1994 Jul;23(7):1297-301,
1305: Ward J Free radicals, antioxidants and preventive
geriatrics.
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