Dietary Vitamin C and Age-Induced Lipid and Hormonal Metabolic Changes in a Humanized Mouse Model Not Synthesizing Vitamin C and Producing Lipoprotein(a) [Gulo (−/−); Lp(a)+]

• Published in: Journal of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 2021; pp. 5591697 - 8
• Main Authors: Shi, Lei, Rath, Matthias, Niedzwiecki, Aleksandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Hindawi 2021; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Acids; Age groups; Aging; Antioxidants; Apolipoproteins; Ascorbic acid; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Collagen; Diet; Estrogens; Extracellular matrix; Insulin; Insulin-like growth factor I; Laboratories; Lipids; Lipoprotein A; Lipoproteins; Liver; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Nutrient deficiency; Physiological aspects; Transgenic animals; Vitamin C; Womens health; Milpitas California; United States > US
• ISSN: 2090-0724; 2090-0732
• DOI: 10.1155/2021/5591697

The lack of ability to produce vitamin C innately and the ability to synthesize human lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) are two unique metabolic features present in humans, compared with most other animal species. The Gulo (-/-) and Lp(a)+ mouse model displays these two features and is therefore suitable for the study of metabolic aspects relevant to human metabolism. It is a well-known fact that vitamin C is essential in collagen synthesis, and in maintaining extracellular matrix integrity, as well as being a powerful antioxidant and cofactor in many metabolic pathways, which makes it a critically important micronutrient for health and healthy aging. In this study, we investigated the effects of a long-term intake of high and low doses of vitamin C on age-related metabolic lipid and hormonal changes in young (eight to nine months), mid-aged (one year), and old (two years) Gulo (−/−) and Lp(a)+ mice. We observed that chronic vitamin C deficiency resulted in a less healthy metabolic lipid profile, impaired serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and sex-hormones secretion, all of which can accelerate the development of various pathological conditions in the aging process. The most susceptible to the negative impact of vitamin C deficiency were the young (eight to nine months) and old (two years) mice. Our study conducted in this humanized mouse model indicates that sustained adequate vitamin C intake is essential in maintaining a healthier metabolic profile, important in preventing age-related pathologies throughout the aging process.