This popular vitamin, especially in high doses, protects the lungs from the harmful effects of fine particulate matter. These pollutants, known as PM2.5, cause numerous health problems, including asthma and lung cancer.
Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) conducted experiments on mice and on human tissue grown in the lab. The team investigated vitamin C’s protective effects on tissues exposed to PM2.5. They found that the vitamin shields cells from some of the major damage air pollution typically inflicts on the lungs.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
Vitamin C has long been known for its antioxidant properties. So it’s no surprise the team tested its protective action against airborne pollutants.
The team found that vitamin C reduced the loss of mitochondria—the cells’ ‘power stations’—decreased harmful inflammation, and prevented cell damage caused by oxidative stress from unstable, reactive molecules.
The report says, “Antioxidant vitamin C supplements proved effective in mitigating the adverse effects of PM2.5, so they can be recommended for high-risk individuals.”
“This study suggests that consuming the maximum allowable dose of vitamin C protects the lungs. However, consult a doctor to ensure you’re taking the right supplement at the correct dosage,” said molecular biologist Brian Oliver, a co-author of the study.
PM2.5 particles typically come from traffic, wildfires, and dust storms, and they are extremely harmful to health, as Science Alert highlighted. Even low levels of air pollution from these particles can cause significant cellular disruptions. The level of PM2.5 pollution to which the lab rodents were exposed is comparable to levels frequently recorded in developed countries today.
“For the first time, we’re offering hope for an affordable preventive solution to a global problem affecting millions. Now we know there is no safe level of PM2.5 — it causes lung inflammation and leads to respiratory and chronic diseases, especially during wildfires,” said Oliver.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Environment International.
Photo: Openverse
