3 - Emerging Role of Nutrition in Chronic Disease Prevention: A Look at the Data, with an Emphasis on Vitamin C

Abstract

Today, one is at the threshold of a great revolution, and it involves antioxidant nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids. Increasingly, research suggest that these nutrients are of great importance in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease, the two major killers in Western society. However, beyond these diseases, it is increasingly apparent that antioxidants may be important in most of the diseases of aging, including age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, and impaired immune function resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. Evidence for an important role of antioxidant nutrients comes from the complete spectrum of biomedical research fields, biochemical research, animal studies, epidemiologic data, and clinical trials. Any one of these alone would be insufficient as a basis for public policy. However, in fact, all of these types of research are reaching the same conclusion, that antioxidant nutrients may be of great importance in preserving health and vigor, and in preventing disease. This chapter reviews some of that evidence, with a special emphasis on vitamin C.