Perhaps the best known nutritional role for vitamin C is as an antioxidant. In this role, vitamin C can reduce levels of oxidative stress and also plays a key role in certain reactions, most notably in the synthesis of collagen. However, vitamin C is also highly important in the maintenance of the immune system and may play a role in gene regulation. For example, vitamin C is required for the maturation of white blood cells in humans, and this is pivotal in the defence against pathogens. Vitamin C also accumulates in phagocytic immune cells including neutrophils, where it enhances chemotaxis, phagocytosis, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and this is required to damage invading pathogens. In addition, vitamin C may also be involved in gene regulation, and in this way may be able to switch genes on and off based on environmental requirements through a process called DNA methylation. Supplemental vitamin C may therefore play a significant nutritional role beyond that of a traditional antioxidant.
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