The role of vitamin C for the eye and brain

Scientists at the University of Oregon Health & Science, the United States has found that: You have to provide sufficient amounts of vitamin C necessary to maintain normal functioning of the brain and retinal neurons. The results of the study are published online in the journal Neuroscience, of the June 29, 2011, this is the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience United States.

"We found that the retinal nerve cells should be provided with vitamin C dose is relatively high, both inside and outside, in order to maintain normal operation of the eye", Henrique von Gersdorff Dr., Leading scientists at the Vollum Institute, OHSU University, USA, and co-author of the study. "Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, suggesting that vitamin C plays an important role during the operation of the human brain, which we had not previously realized."

The brain has special receptors, called GABA receptors, helps regulate the rapid communication between cells in the brain. GABA receptors in the brain act as a "brake" to help inhibit the neurons before the stimulus in the brain. The researchers found that the GABA receptors in retinal cells no longer function properly as lack of vitamin C.

By retinal cells is a nerve cell is easily accessible, so the GABA receptors in other areas of the brain are also required to provide the necessary amount of vitamin C for normal operation thereof, as Von Gersdorff. And since vitamin C as antioxidants in nature, maybe it is actually a protected area of ​​the receptors and cells before the incident, Von Gersdorff said.

Although the function of vitamin C in the brain is not fully understood, but in reality, the human body is deficient in vitamin C, vitamin C in the brain will eventually disappear. "Maybe our bodies want to spend the final amount of vitamin C in the brain," according to Von Gersdorff. This finding may provide answers to why patients in the scurvy, the result of severe vitamin C deficiency. One of the common symptoms of depression disease scurvy, and is the first consequence of the lack of vitamin C in the brain.

The findings could influence the course of treatment for diseases such as glaucoma and epilepsy. Cause the two diseases is due to the dysfunction of the nerve cells in the retina and the brain, they are more irritable, partly because the GABA receptor was not functioning normally.

"For example, a diet rich in vitamin C may help protect the retinal neurons, particularly for those at risk of glaucoma," said Von Gersdorff. "Anyway, this is just speculation and theory need more empirical research to prove. However, results of this study has provided some important insights and lead to a variety of authors new theories and potential treatment strategies. "

Von Gerdorff Laboratory of Vollum Institute, OHSU University, United States, are reserved for scientists and students to perform basic research in neuroscience. The study was conducted using goldfish retinal cells, which have the same overall structure as biological human retina.

Retinal research work done by Dr. Evan Vickers practice, this is part of the work of Von Gersdorff laboratory. Co-authors of this study include: Cecilia Calero in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel J. Calvo from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Gustavo and Luis Cid Aguayo from the University of Concepcion, Chile.

The research was funded boiHoi Research Council National Science Argentina, Pew Foundation, the Organization and the International Brain Research National Eye Institute National Institutes of Health of the United States.