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Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact

Year 2025, Volume: 34 Issue: 3, 536 - 545, 30.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1727061
https://izlik.org/JA47BG64XD

Abstract

This study addresses the antioxidant effects of vitamins A, E, and C and their contributions to the maintenance of human health. Excessive production of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress, negatively affecting cellular components such as lipids, proteins, and DNA; this, in turn, contributes to the onset of various chronic diseases, including aging-related conditions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Antioxidants are vital for counteracting these harmful effects. Both endogenously produced and externally sourced antioxidants neutralize free radicals, reducing cellular damage and strengthening the body’s defense systems. The antioxidant properties of vitamins A, E, and C play a critical role in protecting cellular components from oxidative damage by mitigating the effects of oxidative stress. Adequate intake of these vitamins through a balanced diet enhances the body’s antioxidant capacity, providing protective effects against aging and the development of chronic diseases. This review aims to provide a better understanding of the physiological roles, antioxidant mechanisms, and overall impact of vitamins A, E, and C on human health.

References

  • Sandesc M, Rogobete AF, Bedreag OH, et al. Analysis of oxidative stress-related markers in critically ill polytrauma patients: An observational prospective single-center study. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2018;18(2):191-197. doi:10.17305/bjbms.2018.2306.
  • Süt C, Aygül DR, Mercanlıgil SM. Antioksidan vitaminlerin diabetes mellitus'ta gelişen oksidatif stres üzerindeki rolü. Selçuk Sağlık Dergisi. 2023;4(3):503-519.
  • Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, Chandra N. Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010;4(8):118-26. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70902.
  • Andres CMC, Perez de la Lastra JM, Juan CA, Plou FJ, Perez-Lebena E. Antioxidant metabolism Pathways in vitamins, polyphenols, and selenium: Parallels and divergences. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(5):2600. doi:10.3390/ijms25052600.
  • Munteanu IG, Apetrei C. Analytical methods used in determining antioxidant activity: A review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(7):3380. doi:10.3390/ijms22073380.
  • Osipova V, Polovinkina M, Gracheva Y, Shpakovsky D, Osipova A, Berberova N. Antioxidant activity of some organosulfur compounds in vitro. Arab J Chem. 2021;14(4):103068. doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2021.103068.
  • van der Schaft N, Schoufour JD, Nano J, et al. Dietary antioxidant capacity and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, prediabetes and insulin resistance: the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2019;34(9):853-861. doi:10.1007/s10654-019-00548-9.
  • Moharram HA, Youssef MM. Methods for determining the antioxidant activity: A review. Alex J Fd Sci & Technol. 2014;11(1):31-42.
  • Ahmed L, Omer R. Spectroscopic properties of Vitamin C: A theoretical work. Cumhuriyet Sci J. 2020;41(4):916-928. doi:10.17776/csj.762184.
  • Alberts A, Moldoveanu ET, Niculescu AG, Grumezescu AM. Vitamin C: A comprehensive review of its role in health, disease prevention, and therapeutic potential. Molecules. 2025;30(3):748. doi:10.3390/molecules30030748.
  • Purpura M, Jager R, Godavarthi A, Bhaskarachar D, Tinsley GM. Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Eur J Nutr. 2024;63(8):3037-3046. doi:10.1007/s00394-024-03487-8.
  • Dosedel M, Jirkovsky E, Macakova K, et al. Vitamin C-sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, use, toxicity, and determination. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):615. doi:10.3390/nu13020615.
  • Amir Aslani B, Ghobadi S. Studies on oxidants and antioxidants with a brief glance at their relevance to the immune system. Life Sci. 2016;146:163-73. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2016.01.014.
  • Sharifi-Rad M, Anil Kumar NV, Zucca P, et al. Lifestyle, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: Back and forth in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases. Front Physiol. 2020;11:694. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00694.
  • Kocot J, Luchowska-Kocot D, Kielczykowska M, Musik I, Kurzepa J. Does vitamin C influence neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders? Nutrients. 2017;9(7):659. doi:10.3390/nu9070659.
  • Fu M, Liu J, Li Q, et al. Synthesis of lipophilic vitamin C and evaluation of its antioxidant performance in sunflower seed oil frying. Food Chem. 2024;460(3):140727. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140727.
  • Calder PC, Kreider RB, McKay DL. Enhanced vitamin C delivery: A systematic literature review assessing the efficacy and safety of alternative supplement forms in healthy adults. Nutrients. 2025;17(2):279. doi:10.3390/nu17020279.
  • Mitmesser SH, Ye Q, Evans M, Combs M. Determination of plasma and leukocyte vitamin C concentrations in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Ester-C®. Springerplus. 2016;5(1):1161. doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2605-7.
  • Ghanem A, Melzer AM, Zaal E, et al. Ascorbate kills breast cancer cells by rewiring metabolism via redox imbalance and energy crisis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2021;163:196-209. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.012.
  • Montoya-Estrada A, Garcia-Cortes AY, Romo-Yanez J, et al. The Administration of resveratrol and vitamin C reduces oxidative stress in postmenopausal women-a pilot randomized clinical trial. Nutrients. 2024;16(21):3775. doi:10.3390/nu16213775.
  • Yang W, Hu Z, Gu W. Assessing the relationship between serum vitamin A, C, E, D, and B12 levels and preeclampsia. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2025;38(1):2466222. doi:10.1080/14767058.2025.2466222.
  • Meacci E, Chirco A, Garcia-Gil M. Potential vitamin E signaling mediators in skeletal muscle. Antioxidants. 2024;13(11):1383. doi:10.3390/antiox13111383.
  • Miyazawa T, Burdeos GC, Itaya M, Nakagawa K, Miyazawa T. Vitamin E: Regulatory redox interactions. IUBMB Life. 2019;71(4):430-441. doi:10.1002/iub.2008.
  • Jiang Q. Natural forms of vitamin E: metabolism, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities and their role in disease prevention and therapy. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014;72:76-90. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.03.035.
  • Blaner WS, Shmarakov IO, Traber MG. Vitamin A and Vitamin E: Will the real antioxidant please stand up? Annu Rev Nutr. 2021;41:105-131. doi:10.1146/annurev-nutr-082018-124228.
  • Khadangi F, Azzi A. Vitamin E - The next 100 years. IUBMB Life. 2019;71(4):411-415. doi:10.1002/iub.1990.
  • Takahashi N, Saito D, Hasegawa S, Yamasaki M, Imai M. Vitamin A in health care: Suppression of growth and induction of differentiation in cancer cells by vitamin A and its derivatives and their mechanisms of action. Pharmacol Ther. 2022;230:107942. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107942.
  • Gonçalves A, Estevinho BN, Rocha F. Microencapsulation of vitamin A: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2016;51:76-87. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2016.03.001.
  • Kim JA, Jang JH, Lee SY. An Updated comprehensive review on vitamin A and carotenoids in breast cancer: Mechanisms, genetics, assessment, current evidence, and future clinical implications. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3162. doi:10.3390/nu13093162.
  • Carazo A, Macakova K, Matousova K, Krcmova LK, Protti M, Mladenka P. Vitamin A update: Forms, sources, kinetics, detection, function, deficiency, therapeutic use and toxicity. Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1703. doi:10.3390/nu13051703.
  • Aborode AT, Onifade IA, Olorunshola MM, et al. Biochemical mechanisms and molecular interactions of vitamins in cancer therapy. Cancer Pathog Ther. 2025;3(1):3-15. doi:10.1016/j.cpt.2024.05.001.
  • Milani A, Basirnejad M, Shahbazi S, Bolhassani A. Carotenoids: biochemistry, pharmacology and treatment. Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1290-1324. doi:10.1111/bph.13625.

A, E ve C Vitaminleri: Antioksidan Etki Mekanizmaları ve Fizyolojik Etkileri

Year 2025, Volume: 34 Issue: 3, 536 - 545, 30.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1727061
https://izlik.org/JA47BG64XD

Abstract

Bu çalışma A, E ve C vitaminlerinin antioksidan etkilerini ve insan sağlığının korunmasındaki katkılarını ele almaktadır. Serbest radikallerin aşırı üretimi, oksidatif strese yol açarak lipidler, proteinler ve DNA gibi hücresel bileşenleri olumsuz etkiler; bu durum yaşlanma, kanser, kardiyovasküler hastalıklar ve nörodejeneratif bozukluklar dahil olmak üzere birçok kronik hastalığın başlangıcına katkıda bulunur. Antioksidanlar, bu zararlı etkileri dengelemek açısından hayati öneme sahiptir. Hem vücut tarafından üretilen hem de dış kaynaklı alınan antioksidanlar, serbest radikalleri etkisiz hale getirerek hücresel hasarı azaltır ve vücudun savunma sistemlerini güçlendirir. A, E ve C vitaminlerinin antioksidan özellikleri, oksidatif stresin etkilerini azaltarak hücresel bileşenleri oksidatif hasardan korumada kritik bir rol oynar. Dengeli bir beslenme ile bu vitaminlerin yeterli düzeyde alınması vücudun antioksidan kapasitesini artırarak yaşlanma sürecine ve kronik hastalıkların gelişimine karşı koruyucu etkiler sağlar. Bu derleme A, E ve C vitaminlerinin fizyolojik rollerini, antioksidan mekanizmalarını ve insan sağlığı üzerindeki genel etkilerini daha iyi anlamayı amaçlamaktadır.

References

  • Sandesc M, Rogobete AF, Bedreag OH, et al. Analysis of oxidative stress-related markers in critically ill polytrauma patients: An observational prospective single-center study. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2018;18(2):191-197. doi:10.17305/bjbms.2018.2306.
  • Süt C, Aygül DR, Mercanlıgil SM. Antioksidan vitaminlerin diabetes mellitus'ta gelişen oksidatif stres üzerindeki rolü. Selçuk Sağlık Dergisi. 2023;4(3):503-519.
  • Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, Chandra N. Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010;4(8):118-26. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70902.
  • Andres CMC, Perez de la Lastra JM, Juan CA, Plou FJ, Perez-Lebena E. Antioxidant metabolism Pathways in vitamins, polyphenols, and selenium: Parallels and divergences. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(5):2600. doi:10.3390/ijms25052600.
  • Munteanu IG, Apetrei C. Analytical methods used in determining antioxidant activity: A review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(7):3380. doi:10.3390/ijms22073380.
  • Osipova V, Polovinkina M, Gracheva Y, Shpakovsky D, Osipova A, Berberova N. Antioxidant activity of some organosulfur compounds in vitro. Arab J Chem. 2021;14(4):103068. doi:10.1016/j.arabjc.2021.103068.
  • van der Schaft N, Schoufour JD, Nano J, et al. Dietary antioxidant capacity and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, prediabetes and insulin resistance: the Rotterdam Study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2019;34(9):853-861. doi:10.1007/s10654-019-00548-9.
  • Moharram HA, Youssef MM. Methods for determining the antioxidant activity: A review. Alex J Fd Sci & Technol. 2014;11(1):31-42.
  • Ahmed L, Omer R. Spectroscopic properties of Vitamin C: A theoretical work. Cumhuriyet Sci J. 2020;41(4):916-928. doi:10.17776/csj.762184.
  • Alberts A, Moldoveanu ET, Niculescu AG, Grumezescu AM. Vitamin C: A comprehensive review of its role in health, disease prevention, and therapeutic potential. Molecules. 2025;30(3):748. doi:10.3390/molecules30030748.
  • Purpura M, Jager R, Godavarthi A, Bhaskarachar D, Tinsley GM. Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Eur J Nutr. 2024;63(8):3037-3046. doi:10.1007/s00394-024-03487-8.
  • Dosedel M, Jirkovsky E, Macakova K, et al. Vitamin C-sources, physiological role, kinetics, deficiency, use, toxicity, and determination. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):615. doi:10.3390/nu13020615.
  • Amir Aslani B, Ghobadi S. Studies on oxidants and antioxidants with a brief glance at their relevance to the immune system. Life Sci. 2016;146:163-73. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2016.01.014.
  • Sharifi-Rad M, Anil Kumar NV, Zucca P, et al. Lifestyle, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: Back and forth in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases. Front Physiol. 2020;11:694. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00694.
  • Kocot J, Luchowska-Kocot D, Kielczykowska M, Musik I, Kurzepa J. Does vitamin C influence neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders? Nutrients. 2017;9(7):659. doi:10.3390/nu9070659.
  • Fu M, Liu J, Li Q, et al. Synthesis of lipophilic vitamin C and evaluation of its antioxidant performance in sunflower seed oil frying. Food Chem. 2024;460(3):140727. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140727.
  • Calder PC, Kreider RB, McKay DL. Enhanced vitamin C delivery: A systematic literature review assessing the efficacy and safety of alternative supplement forms in healthy adults. Nutrients. 2025;17(2):279. doi:10.3390/nu17020279.
  • Mitmesser SH, Ye Q, Evans M, Combs M. Determination of plasma and leukocyte vitamin C concentrations in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Ester-C®. Springerplus. 2016;5(1):1161. doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2605-7.
  • Ghanem A, Melzer AM, Zaal E, et al. Ascorbate kills breast cancer cells by rewiring metabolism via redox imbalance and energy crisis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2021;163:196-209. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.012.
  • Montoya-Estrada A, Garcia-Cortes AY, Romo-Yanez J, et al. The Administration of resveratrol and vitamin C reduces oxidative stress in postmenopausal women-a pilot randomized clinical trial. Nutrients. 2024;16(21):3775. doi:10.3390/nu16213775.
  • Yang W, Hu Z, Gu W. Assessing the relationship between serum vitamin A, C, E, D, and B12 levels and preeclampsia. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2025;38(1):2466222. doi:10.1080/14767058.2025.2466222.
  • Meacci E, Chirco A, Garcia-Gil M. Potential vitamin E signaling mediators in skeletal muscle. Antioxidants. 2024;13(11):1383. doi:10.3390/antiox13111383.
  • Miyazawa T, Burdeos GC, Itaya M, Nakagawa K, Miyazawa T. Vitamin E: Regulatory redox interactions. IUBMB Life. 2019;71(4):430-441. doi:10.1002/iub.2008.
  • Jiang Q. Natural forms of vitamin E: metabolism, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities and their role in disease prevention and therapy. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014;72:76-90. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.03.035.
  • Blaner WS, Shmarakov IO, Traber MG. Vitamin A and Vitamin E: Will the real antioxidant please stand up? Annu Rev Nutr. 2021;41:105-131. doi:10.1146/annurev-nutr-082018-124228.
  • Khadangi F, Azzi A. Vitamin E - The next 100 years. IUBMB Life. 2019;71(4):411-415. doi:10.1002/iub.1990.
  • Takahashi N, Saito D, Hasegawa S, Yamasaki M, Imai M. Vitamin A in health care: Suppression of growth and induction of differentiation in cancer cells by vitamin A and its derivatives and their mechanisms of action. Pharmacol Ther. 2022;230:107942. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107942.
  • Gonçalves A, Estevinho BN, Rocha F. Microencapsulation of vitamin A: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2016;51:76-87. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2016.03.001.
  • Kim JA, Jang JH, Lee SY. An Updated comprehensive review on vitamin A and carotenoids in breast cancer: Mechanisms, genetics, assessment, current evidence, and future clinical implications. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3162. doi:10.3390/nu13093162.
  • Carazo A, Macakova K, Matousova K, Krcmova LK, Protti M, Mladenka P. Vitamin A update: Forms, sources, kinetics, detection, function, deficiency, therapeutic use and toxicity. Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1703. doi:10.3390/nu13051703.
  • Aborode AT, Onifade IA, Olorunshola MM, et al. Biochemical mechanisms and molecular interactions of vitamins in cancer therapy. Cancer Pathog Ther. 2025;3(1):3-15. doi:10.1016/j.cpt.2024.05.001.
  • Milani A, Basirnejad M, Shahbazi S, Bolhassani A. Carotenoids: biochemistry, pharmacology and treatment. Br J Pharmacol. 2017;174(11):1290-1324. doi:10.1111/bph.13625.
There are 32 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Metabolic Medicine
Journal Section Review
Authors

Feride Koca 0000-0002-5150-8029

Elif Yılmaz 0009-0006-5702-1146

Leyla Çimen 0000-0002-4730-5595

Submission Date June 25, 2025
Acceptance Date November 10, 2025
Publication Date December 30, 2025
DOI https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1727061
IZ https://izlik.org/JA47BG64XD
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 34 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Koca, F., Yılmaz, E., & Çimen, L. (2025). Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 34(3), 536-545. https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1727061
AMA 1.Koca F, Yılmaz E, Çimen L. Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact. JHS. 2025;34(3):536-545. doi:10.34108/eujhs.1727061
Chicago Koca, Feride, Elif Yılmaz, and Leyla Çimen. 2025. “Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact”. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 34 (3): 536-45. https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1727061.
EndNote Koca F, Yılmaz E, Çimen L (December 1, 2025) Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 34 3 536–545.
IEEE [1]F. Koca, E. Yılmaz, and L. Çimen, “Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact”, JHS, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 536–545, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.34108/eujhs.1727061.
ISNAD Koca, Feride - Yılmaz, Elif - Çimen, Leyla. “Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact”. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 34/3 (December 1, 2025): 536-545. https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1727061.
JAMA 1.Koca F, Yılmaz E, Çimen L. Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact. JHS. 2025;34:536–545.
MLA Koca, Feride, et al. “Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact”. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 34, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 536-45, doi:10.34108/eujhs.1727061.
Vancouver 1.Feride Koca, Elif Yılmaz, Leyla Çimen. Vitamins A, E, and C: Mechanisms of Antioxidant Action and Physiological Impact. JHS. 2025 Dec. 1;34(3):536-45. doi:10.34108/eujhs.1727061