Vitamin C is water-soluble, and probably the most famous of all the vitamins. Even before its discovery in 1932, physicians recognised that there must be a compound in citrus fruits preventing scurvy, a disease that killed as many as 2 million sailors between 1500 and 1800. Later researchers discovered that man, other primates and the guinea pig depend on external sources to cover their Vitamin C requirements. Most other animals are able to synthesise Vitamin C from glucose and galactose in their body. The most prominent role of Vitamin C is its immune stimulating effect, which is important for the defence against infections such as common colds. It also acts as an inhibitor of histamine, a compound that is released during allergic reactions. As a powerful antioxidant it can neutralise harmful free radicals and aids in neutralising pollutants and toxins.

Sokmen B, Basaraner H, Yanardag R. Combined effects of treatment with Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium on the skin of diabetic rats. 1. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2012 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium (Se) on the skin tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Swiss albino rats were divided into four groups: control, control?+?antioxidants, diabetic, diabetic?+?antioxidants groups. diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65?mg/kg streptozotocin. Vitamin C (250?mg/kg), Vitamin E (250?mg/kg) and Se (0.2?mg/kg) were given by gavage technique to rats of one diabetic and one control group for 30?days. In the diabetic group, the levels of serum urea and creatinine, skin lipid peroxidation and nonenzymatic glycosylation levels increased, but skin glutathione levels decreased. Treatment with Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Se reversed these effects. The present study showed that Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Se exerted antioxidant effects and consequently may prevent skin damage caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes.