Vitamin C enhances cell regeneration - study

Vitamin C enhances cell regeneration

Vitamin C can enhance the process through which adult stem cells are reprogrammed into embryonic stems cells, a new study finds.

"The low efficiency of the reprogramming process has hampered progress with this technology and is indicative of how little we understand it,” said lead researcher Duanqing Pei from the South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.

According to the study published in Cell Stem Cell, vitamin C can reverse the aging process in adult cells.

Adult cells can be reprogrammed into embryonic stem cells by turning on a group of genes, the study found.

Vitamin C has the ability to change gene expression related to reactive oxygen species (ROS), accelerating the process of transforming adult stem cells into pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Other antioxidants, however, were reported not to be capable of showing the same effects.

Scientists concluded that their finding is a major breakthrough in regenerative medicine, stressing that "Our results highlight a simple way to improve iPSC generation and provide additional insight into the mechanistic basis of reprogramming."