Vitamin C may protect against air pollution, study suggests

Medical Xpress / University of Technology, Sydney / Environment International ^ | Dec. 3, 2025 | Xu Bai et al

[ConservativeMind]

Vitamin C may have the potential to protect people against lung disease caused by traffic-related air pollution, bushfires and dust storms, new research finds.

Researchers examined the effect of vitamin C in reducing lung inflammation and mitochondrial loss caused by PM2.5—tiny airborne particles commonly found in urban pollution—finding it could be protective.

Air pollution is becoming the second-highest preventable risk factor to our health, at a level greater than smoking. In 2019, air pollution contributed to more than 200 million healthy life years lost to premature death or disability.

There is no safe level of air pollution caused by PM2.5, even at the levels present in Australian capital cities. At low levels, PM2.5 can contribute to lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.

Using a well-established mouse model, the research team discovered that using antioxidant vitamin C supplementation reduced the negative effects of low-level PM2.5 exposure.

Key findings

—Taking vitamin C effectively prevents PM2.5-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

—Taking vitamin C also helps reduce harmful substances in our cells and protects our cell energy makers (mitochondria) from getting damaged by these tiny particles.

—The study provides hope that vitamin C may help high-risk individuals in the event of bushfires or dust-storms.

"For the first time, we are providing hope for a low-cost preventative treatment to a global issue," Professor Oliver said. "We know now that there is no safe level of air pollution, which causes inflammation in the lungs and leads to myriad respiratory diseases and chronic illnesses."

"This study suggests that taking the highest permitted dose of Vitamin C for you would potentially help, but you would need to speak with your GP to make sure you're taking the right kind of supplement at the right level ."

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TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: health; studysuggests; vitaminc; vitamins

[ConservativeMind]

Vitamin C helps reduce lung inflammation and mitochondrial loss in cells, caused by some of the smallest air pollution particles.

Do note our bodies can’t normally use high doses well. We can use about 250 mg of active Vitamin C, at a time. Time release forms for 500 mg would be a good option, taken several times through the day, it would appear.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Veto!]

C offers protectction from colds amd flu too.

But you have to be a little cautious about hoow much you take.
I weigh 110-120 pounds. was taking 1200 mg per day. Then tested positive for colon cancer. Read an article on WebMD.com that stated that too much C can give you a result that looks like cancer in that test.

Gave three bottles of 1500 mg to a big male friend. cut bact to 500 mg, two monthls later it was normal. Told my MD this story and he. gave me a huge smile. He’s the one wh9 t9ld me about WebMD