![\"Vitamin](\"https:\/\/cdn.sci.news\/images\/enlarge13\/image_14404e-Vitamin-C.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nVitamin C (ascorbate) is found in all skin compartments. Pullar et al. carried out a comprehensive investigation to establish the relationship between plasma and skin ascorbate levels, with a focus on the major skin compartments. Image credit: Pullar et al., doi: 10.1016\/j.jid.2025.10.587.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strength of the association between skin thickness and vitamin C intake is compelling,\u201d said University of Otago\u2019s Professor Margreet Vissers, senior author of the study.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were surprised by the tight correlation between plasma vitamin C levels and those in the skin \u2014 this was much more marked than in any other organ we have investigated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are the first to demonstrate that vitamin C in the blood circulation penetrates all layers of the skin and is associated with improved skin function.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very proud of my team and excited about what the data is telling us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results suggest that beauty really does come from within, supporting your skin function from the inside-out by delivering vitamin C to the skin the way nature designed it \u2014 via the bloodstream.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that vitamin C is required for collagen production,\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fact has inspired the addition of vitamin C to many skin cream formulations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, vitamin C is highly water soluble and poorly absorbed through the outer skin barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur study shows that the skin is extremely good at absorbing vitamin C from the blood circulation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUptake into the outer epidermal skin layer also seems to be prioritized.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the study, the authors established the association between plasma and skin vitamin C levels, using healthy skin tissue from patients undergoing elective surgical procedures.<\/p>\n
They then involved a before-and-after, dietary vitamin C intervention study at two sites \u2014 in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Germany \u2014 each with 12 healthy participants.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll were instructed to consume two kiwifruit daily \u2014 the equivalent of 250 micrograms of vitamin C \u2014 for eight weeks,\u201d Professor Vissers said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe then collected skin samples before and after the intervention, with separate analyses allowing us to look at the skin basal layers in Christchurch and the outer dermal skin layer and skin function tests in Germany.\u201d<\/p>\n
The researchers also measured skin sample regeneration \u2014 including ultrasound tested measures of skin thickness, elasticity UV protection and renewal of epidermal cells \u2014 giving a complete picture of skin function.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other really substantial finding showed a significant increase in the participants\u2019 skin thickness levels, reflecting collagen production and an upsurge in the regeneration of their epidermal cells, in other words skin renewal,\u201d Professor Vissers said.<\/p>\n
The scientists suggest that increasing your dietary vitamin C intake will result in effective vitamin C uptake into all compartments of the skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe important thing is to keep your plasma levels optimal, which we know can be easily achieved in a healthy person with a vitamin C intake of around 250 mg per day,\u201d Professor Vissers said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe body however does not store the vitamin, so we recommend 5+ a day, every day, with one of those five being a high vitamin C food, as a good habit to cultivate.\u201d<\/p>\n