Vitamin C, in general, is known for its antioxidant properties, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body that can contribute to cellular damage and aging. By reducing oxidative stress and supporting cellular health, vitamin C may indirectly have a positive influence on longevity.

Sodium Ascorbate is a sodium salt form of ascorbic acid (a.k.a vitamin C). It is a less acidic form of ascorbic acid with many of the same beneficial characteristics. Some of its main benefits include antioxidant protection, bolstering immune function, and assisting in collagen synthesis.

Benefits:

Antioxidant Protection: Sodium ascorbate's antioxidant properties can help reduce oxidative stress and protect cells from damage. By neutralizing free radicals, it may contribute to maintaining cellular health and reducing the risk of age-related diseases.

Immune Function: Vitamin C plays a vital role in supporting immune function. It enhances the activity of immune cells, helps stimulate the production of antibodies, and assists in the function of the skin barrier. A robust immune system can aid in fighting infections and maintaining overall health.

Collagen Synthesis and Skin Health: Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a protein that provides structure to the skin, blood vessels, and other connective tissues. Sodium ascorbate supports collagen production by hydroxylating the two amino acids proline and lysine, promoting healthy skin and potentially reducing the appearance of aging-related changes like wrinkles and sagging. This collagen production also assists in improving the speed and effectiveness of wound healing.

Cardiovascular Health: Some research suggests that vitamin C may have positive effects on cardiovascular health. It may help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, by improving blood vessel function, reducing inflammation, and supporting the health of the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels).

Vitamin C effects on 12 Hallmarks of Aging:

Telomere Attrition:

Vitamin C protects telomeres by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing telomerase activity.

Epigenetic Alterations:

Vitamin C impacts epigenetics for acting as a cofactor for certain enzymes that regulate gene expression and reducing oxidative stress to maintain a more stable epigenetic profile.

Cellular Scenescence:

Vitamin C contributes to cellular scenescence by acting as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative stress and influencing collagen synthesis which affects the activity of enzymes involved in aging.

Inflammation:

Vitamin C, due to its antioxidant properties, has been shown to reduce oxidative stress, which can indirectly contribute to inflammation.

Dysregulated Autophagy:

Vitamin C can induce autophagy in a cell that is under oxidative stress or deprived of nutrients.

Genomic Instability:

Vitamin C indirectly preserves genomic stability by reducing oxidative stress, a major contributor to DNA damage; moreover, it enhances the activity of DNA repair enzymes responsible for fixing strand breaks, further contributing to genomic stability maintenance.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction:

Vitamin C protects mitochondrial health by reducing oxidative stress and participating in cellular energy metabolism.

Stem Cell Exhaustion:

Vitamin C has been shown to plays a role in stem cells by affecting the maintenance and differentiation of various types of stem cells.

Loss of Proteostasis:

Vitamin C indirectly supports proteostasis by reducing oxidative stress, aiding proper protein folding, reducing aggregation, stabilizing collagen and promoting its synthesis, and enhancing heat shock proteins (HSPs) activity, which play a crucial role in maintaining proteostasis under stress conditions, collectively contributing to protein homeostasis.

Deregulated Nutrient Sensing:

Vitamin C can enhance cellular metabolism by boosting the activity of the AMPK enzyme. Low levels of vitamin C have also been associated with and increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

Intercelluar Communication:

Vitamin C plays a role in cellular communication by affecting the synthesis and assembly of gap junction proteins, such as connexins, which are the building blocks of gap junction channels.

Microbiome Dysbiosis:

Vitamin C can reduce dysbiosis by acting as a prebiotic and reducing oxidative stress in the gut.

Sources:

NIH Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/

Vitamin C and Cardiovascular Disease: An Update: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761826/

The Health Effects of Vitamin C Supplementation: A Review:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.1995.10718484