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Vitamin C i.e. known as a remedy for the common cold, has also shown down the ageing process. A study has shown that it facilitates output of embryonic like stem cells from the adult cells.

It has been known that adult cells can be reprogrammed into cells with characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells by turning on a select set of genes, over the past few years.

Most of the embryonic stem cells are derived from the embryos that develop from eggs fertilized in vitro in a fertilization clinic.

Although, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) i.e. the reprogrammed cells, have tremendous potential for regenerative medicine, the conversion is extremely inefficient.
“The low efficiency of the reprogramming process has hindered progress with this technology and is indicative of how little we comprehend it,” explains Duanqing Pei, senior author of a new study on the subject.

Researchers have found that adding Vitamin C which is an essential nutrient and is present in abundance in the Citrus fruits, enhanced iPSC generation from both mouse and human cells.

Vitamin C accelerated gene expression changes and promoted a more efficient transition to fully reprogrammed state, said a release of the South China Institue.

Somewhat to their surprise, they found that other antioxidants do not have the same effect, but vitamin C does seem to act at least in part through slowing cell senescence.
These findings were published online in Cell Stem Cell.

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