Vitamin C Reverses Premature Aging

Vitamin C is starting out 2010 on a major roll.  A new animal study shows that vitamin C can reverse premature aging – offsetting a genetic weakness that predisposes to early aging, early disease, and early death.

The researchers compared two groups of mice, one normal and one with a genetic disorder that causes premature aging, disease and death (Werner syndrome or WS).  The WS mice were gene were fat, diabetic, and developing heart disease and cancer.  They had very high levels of inflammation.  Feeding them vitamin C resolved the problem and returned them to normal health!

Vitamin C was shown to turn down the primary inflammatory gene switch known as NF-kappaB Protein complex that controls DNA transcription and is involved with cellular responses to stress, cytokines, free radicals, UV radiation, oxidized LDL, and infections. .  It also activated fat burning genes and turned down genes in the liver that cause cancer.

Many individuals have gene-related problems predisposing them to obesity, heart disease, and other issues of premature aging.  It is clear that anyone heading in the wrong direction may be able to benefit from additional vitamin C.