Vitamin C : The State of the Art in Disease Prevention Sixty Years After the Nobel Prize

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, has a long and multifaceted scientific history. In 1937, the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Albert Szent-Gyorgyi'in recognition of his discoveries concerning the biological oxida­ tion processes with special reference to vitamin C', and the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was shared by Sir Norman W. Haworth, who was the first to synthesize the vitamin. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, and this action represented the theoretical basis for various lines of investigation on this molecule in which the potential role of ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of a series of dis­ eases, whose pathogenesis is linked to an excess of free radicals such as athero­ sclerosis and cancer, have been examined. These data have been analyzed in detail by experts in biochemistry, epidemi­ ology, and preventive and clinical medicine in the International Symposium Vitamin C, the state of the art in disease prevention sixty years after the Nobel Prize, held in Monte Carlo from October 31 to November 1, 1997, under the aus­ pices and the scientific endorsement of the Nutrition Foundation of Italy and with the financial support of Bracco SpA and Merck. This volume is a summary of the current state of knowledge on vitamin C (ascorbic acid), the major watersoluble antioxidant vitamin, which was discovered by Albert Szent-Györgyi (Nobel Prize in 1937), resulting from research work in basic science, epidemiology and clinical medicine. Fundamental molecular, biological and physiological properties of ascorbic acid are presented, and the current knowledge on the role of vitamin C in major diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases is critically evaluated. The aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the potential beneficial use of the compound in disease prevention or treatment. The topics are presented by renowned international experts Front Matter....Pages ii-v Antioxidants and Human Health....Pages 1-11 Modulation of Cell Death by Oxidants and Antioxidants....Pages 13-20 Metabolism and Metabolic Interactions of Vitamin C....Pages 21-28 Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention in 1997....Pages 29-40 Vitamin C and Gastric Cancer Prevention....Pages 41-49 Vitamin C and Cardiovascular Risk Factors....Pages 51-58 Vitamin C and Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms of Action....Pages 59-71 Vitamin C and Infectious Diseases....Pages 73-85 Vitamin C in Respiratory Diseases....Pages 87-106 Recommended Vitamin C Intake: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Application....Pages 107-123 The Safety of High Doses of Vitamin C....Pages 125-133 This volume summarizes knowledge on vitamin C (ascorbic acid), the major water-soluble antioxidant vitamin. Fundamental molecular, biological and physiological properties of the acid are presented, and knowledge on the role of vitamin C in major diseases such as cancer is critically evaluated.