Vitamin C effective in reducing oxidative stress: study
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Suh Hyung-joo, sitting front, a food and nutrition professor at Korea University, poses with his research team on the university’s campus in Seoul, last month. The team has found that Vitamin C is effective in reducing oxidative stress. / Courtesy of Kwangdong Pharmaceutical
By Chung Hyun-chae
Vitamin C has been found to be effective in reducing oxidative stress, according to a recent study.
A research team led by Suh Hyung-joo, a food and nutrition professor at Korea University, announced on Aug. 30 that vitamin C has an anti-oxidative stress effect and helps maintain stable biorhythm.
The researchers conducted an experiment with fruit flies between September 2015 and last May to study the effects of vitamin C, caffeine and taurine on behavior and lifespan.
According to the study, fruit flies taking caffeine or taurine were in an aroused state while those taking vitamin C were in stable condition.
Also fruit flies that took vitamin C lived longer than those taking taurine or caffeine.
“From the research, we concluded that vitamin C controls oxidative stress, maintains stable biorhythm and activates physiological functions while taurine and caffeine shorten life expectancy,” Suh told The Korea Times.
The research team assumed that the same effects might occur in the human body.
“We can say that beverages having more vitamin C than caffeine or taurine are better for human health,” Suh said.
The study will be published in an international academic journal, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, before the end of this year.
“The research proved the efficacy of vitamin C as well as drinks containing vitamin C,” said Woo Moon-jea, director of the food and beverage research team at Kwangdong Pharmaceutical. “We will conduct further research to uncover other effects of vitamin C.”