Ascorbic acid, neutrophil function, and the immune response

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1978;48(2):159-64.

Abstract

The role of ascorbic acid is reviewed with regard to antimicrobial activity, interferon production, and humoral and cellular immune responses. Ascorbic acid appears to play a role in a number of neutrophil functions including increased chemotaxis, increased particulate ingestion, enhanced lysozyme-mediated non-oxidative killing, protection against the toxic effects of superoxide anion radical, inhibition of the halide-peroxide-myeloperoxidase system without a pronounced bactericidal effect, and stimulation of the hexose monophosphate shunt.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation*
  • Ascorbic Acid / blood
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology
  • Ascorbic Acid / physiology*
  • Bacteria
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte
  • Hexosephosphates / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Interferons / biosynthesis*
  • Leukocyte Count
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / blood
  • Neutrophils / enzymology
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / physiology*
  • Peroxides / blood
  • Phagocytosis*

Substances

  • Hexosephosphates
  • Peroxides
  • Interferons
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • Ascorbic Acid