Sodium ascorbate is an endogenous antioxidant that participates in hydroxylation reactions in the body, promotes the formation of intercellular substances, assists in corticosteroid synthesis, and influences blood cell maturation by promoting folic acid reduction and iron ion absorption. Sodium ascorbate also possesses antihistaminic effects and inhibits the formation of nitrosamines[1-2]. Sodium ascorbate can be used for the prevention and treatment of scurvy, infectious diseases, acute attacks of Keshan disease, liver diseases, as well as adjuvant therapy for various anemias, allergic skin diseases, and cancer [3-4].
In vitro, Sodium ascorbate (10µM) treatment of B16 murine melanoma cells for 4 hours, Sodium ascorbate significantly induced apoptosis and downregulated transferrin receptor (TfR) expression, thereby reducing intracellular iron levels dependent on iron uptake[5]. Sodium ascorbate (0.5–3mM) treatment of human neuroblastoma cells (e.g., HTLA-230, SH-SY5Y) for 24 hours, Sodium ascorbate significantly induced caspase-dependent apoptosis, accompanied by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced cell proliferation, and decreased glycolytic capacity[6].
In vivo, Sodium ascorbate (60mg/kg) subcutaneously administered to tumor-bearing mice (P388 leukemia cells) (daily dosing starting from the first day after tumor implantation and continuing for 16 days), Sodium ascorbate significantly reduced tumor volume and weight, and improved mouse survival[7]. Sodium ascorbate (5mg/mouse) intraperitoneally administered to autoimmune arthritis mice (every other day for 21 days starting from the first day after immunization), Sodium ascorbate significantly delayed arthritis onset, reduced disease severity, and decreased autoantibody production[8].
References:
[1] Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211. doi: 10.3390/nu9111211.
[2] Padayatty SJ, Levine M. Vitamin C: the known and the unknown and Goldilocks. Oral Dis. 2016 Sep;22(6):463-93.
[3] Gęgotek A, Skrzydlewska E. Ascorbic acid as antioxidant. Vitam Horm. 2023;121:247-270.
[4] Moores J. Vitamin C: a wound healing perspective. Br J Community Nurs. 2013 Dec;Suppl:S6, S8-11.
[5] Kang JS, Cho D, Kim YI, et al. Sodium ascorbate (vitamin C) induces apoptosis in melanoma cells via the down-regulation of transferrin receptor dependent iron uptake. J Cell Physiol. 2005 Jul;204(1):192-7.
[6] Carosio R, Zuccari G, Orienti I, et al. Sodium ascorbate induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma cell lines by interfering with iron uptake. Mol Cancer. 2007 Aug 30;6:55.
[7] Osswald H, Herrmann R, Youssef M. The influence of sodium ascorbate, menadione sodium bisulfite or pyridoxal hydrochloride on the toxic and antineoplastic action of N-methylformamide in P 388 leukemia or M 5076 sarcoma in mice. Toxicology. 1987 Feb;43(2):183-91.
[8] Yin Y, Wu S. Ascorbic acid alleviates rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting the production of autoantibodies. Cell Commun Signal. 2024 Jul 24;22(1):373.