Antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity of Vitamin C in oral environment.
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Date
2014-07
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Abstract
Context: Antioxidant properties and Vitamin C.
Background: Vitamin C is a naturally occurring organic compound and a potent antioxidant
preventing oxidative damage to lipids and other macromolecules. It can also exhibit bimodal
activity as a pro‑oxidant at a higher concentration. Vitamin C has a switch over role from being an
antioxidant in physiologic conditions to a pro‑oxidant under pathologic conditions. A systematic
review of this role would help to elucidate whether it is an antioxidant or a pro‑oxidant in the
oral environment.
Objective: To review studies reported in the literature elucidating the activity of Vitamin C and
determine whether it is an antioxidant or a pro‑oxidant.
Materials and Methods: Articles were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE using appropriate key
words like “Vitamin C,” “antioxidant activity,” “pro‑oxidant activity,” “oral health” “oral disease.”
Hand search of journals was also performed. Articles were reviewed and analyzed.
Results: Search strategy reviewed 10 relevant articles which studied the dual role of Vitamin C.
65% of authors analyzed antioxidant action of ascorbic acid compared to 35% of the pro‑oxidant
potential. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and a pro‑oxidant by a plethora of mechanisms.
Factors determining its bimodal activity were studied, and the frequencies of their occurrence
in the literature were depicted in percentage.
Conclusion: The data validates the role of Vitamin C as an antioxidant under physiologic
conditions exhibiting a cross over role as a pro‑oxidant in pathological conditions. Further
studies are required to substantiate its pro‑oxidant activity to draw concrete conclusions.
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Keywords
Antioxidant activity, oral disease, oral health, pro‑oxidant activity, Vitamin C
Citation
Chakraborthy Aratirika, Ramani Pratibha, Sherlin Herald Justin, Premkumar Priya, Natesan Anuja. Antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity of Vitamin C in oral environment. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 2014 Jul-Aug; 25(4): 499-504.