Summary
This narrative review synthesises evidence on vitamin C's essential biochemical roles and potential health benefits across multiple disease categories, including chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, infections, and neurodegenerative conditions. The authors acknowledge substantial heterogeneity in the literature, with some studies supporting beneficial effects whilst others contradict these findings. The review concludes that whilst daily vitamin C consumption remains necessary to prevent deficiency diseases such as scurvy, further large-scale, long-duration studies are needed to establish its therapeutic potential conclusively.
Regional applicability
The findings are globally applicable, as vitamin C biochemistry and nutritional requirements are universal. United Kingdom public health guidance on adequate vitamin C intake (based on prevention of deficiency rather than disease treatment) would be relevant context; however, this review does not address UK-specific dietary data or health policy.
Key measures
Vitamin C biochemical functions; disease prevention and treatment outcomes across chronic disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, infections, and neurodegenerative disease categories
Outcomes reported
Review synthesised evidence on vitamin C's biochemical roles (cofactor in collagen and hormone synthesis, immune function, iron absorption, antioxidant activity) and its potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, cancer, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. The review identified contradictory findings across studies and highlighted need for larger, longer-duration studies to clarify therapeutic efficacy.
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