Vitamin C: Novel Functions in Bone Homeostasis

Abstract

Vitamin C is best known for its essential role in collagen biosynthesis and maturation and in maintaining the integrity of connective tissues, including bone. Recent studies reported in influential journals have identified some novel functions of vitamin C in bone biology, including controlling osteoblastic differentiation and bone mineralization. These actions of vitamin C in regulating bone homeostasis may make it a potentially effective agent for osteoporosis intervention. (First online: June 4, 2023) REFERENCES Murad S, Grove D, Lindberg KA, Reynolds G, Sivarajah A, Pinnell SR. Regulation of collagen synthesis by ascorbic acid. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1981; 78(5):2879–82. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.78.5.2879 Gabbay KH, Bohren KM, Morello R, Bertin T, Liu J, Vogel P. Ascorbate synthesis pathway: dual role of ascorbate in bone homeostasis. J Biol Chem 2010; 285(25):19510–20. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.110247 Thaler R, Khani F, Sturmlechner I, Dehghani SS, Denbeigh JM, Zhou X, et al. Vitamin C epigenetically controls osteogenesis and bone mineralization. Nat Commun 2022; 13(1):5883. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32915-8 Malmir H, Shab-Bidar S, Djafarian K. Vitamin C intake in relation to bone mineral density and risk of hip fracture and osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Br J Nutr 2018; 119(8):847–58. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114518000430 Compston JE, McClung MR, Leslie WD. Osteoporosis. Lancet 2019; 393(10169):364–76. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32112-3 Collaborators GBDF. Global, regional, and national burden of bone fractures in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Healthy Longev 2021; 2(9):e580–e92. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00172-0