Vitamin C conveys geroprotection on primate ovaries.
Our bodies, and especially our reproductive systems, face the challenge of aging. For women, ovarian aging is a critical factor influencing reproductive health. Scientists have been exploring ways to slow this process, and recent research has shed light on a surprising potential ally: vitamin C.
A comprehensive study involving non-human primates over several years found that consistent oral intake of this common vitamin had a protective effect against ovarian aging. It was observed to reduce key signs of aging, such as damage from “oxidative stress”—an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body that can harm cells—and the depletion of “follicles,” which are the tiny sacs in the ovaries that contain eggs.
Using advanced techniques, researchers were even able to measure a reduction in the biological age of ovarian cells, making egg cells appear over a year younger and surrounding supportive cells several years younger. This beneficial effect appears to be partly due to vitamin C’s ability to activate a specific pathway in the body, known as NRF2, which helps reduce cellular aging and inflammation. These findings offer exciting new insights into combating ovarian aging and could pave the way for future strategies to maintain human reproductive health.