Vitamin C Can Protect Your Lungs From Air Pollution? This New Study Seems To Think So

Final Up to date:January 03, 2026, 17:23 IST

In keeping with the findings from the research, taking vitamin C can forestall oxidative stress and irritation in lungs attributable to air air pollution, a low-cost remedy to a world subject.

Vitamin C has turned out to be the hero ingredient of 2025, with a number of research shining a lightweight on its advantages. From boosting collagen manufacturing, which improves the pores and skin, to serving to cope with infertility points in girls, and even ageing.

A latest research by the College of Know-how Sydney (UTS) and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Analysis discovered that vitamin C has some advantages in defending in opposition to air air pollution.

Air air pollution has gripped the nation, with the Air High quality Index (AQI) going off the charts. With AQI touching very poor to hazardous ranges throughout varied metros in India, air air pollution has change into a public well being disaster.

The findings from the research had been printed within the journal Atmosphere Worldwide. The workforce of researchers discovered that vitamin C might have the potential to guard folks in opposition to lung illness attributable to traffic-related air air pollution, bushfires and dirt storms.

Air air pollution is the second-highest preventable danger issue to our well being, higher than smoking. In 2019, air air pollution contributed to greater than 200 million wholesome life years misplaced to untimely dying or incapacity.

What had been the research’s findings?

The workforce of researchers examined the impact of vitamin C in lowering lung irritation and mitochondrial loss attributable to PM2.5 and located that it could possibly be protecting. This doesn’t imply that individuals residing in areas which have polluted air needs to be popping vitamin C drugs, juicing oranges or munching on broccoli.

Vitamin C isn’t a miracle ingredient that may by some means make all of the injury attributable to air air pollution go away; nevertheless, in keeping with this research, it may assist. The research was led by Professor Brian Oliver from the College of Life Sciences.

There isn’t any secure stage of air air pollution attributable to PM2.5. At its lowest ranges, PM2.5 can contribute to lung ailments, together with bronchial asthma, continual obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and lung most cancers.

High quality particulate air air pollution, or PM2.5, refers to a mix of tiny stable and liquid particles which can be 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter – round 30 occasions thinner than a human hair. As a result of they’re so small, PM2.5 can journey deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and considerably enhance the chance of coronary heart and lung illness, respiratory signs, and even untimely dying.

In keeping with the findings, taking vitamin C successfully prevents PM2.5-induced oxidative stress and irritation. It additionally helps scale back dangerous substances in our cells and protects our cell power makers (mitochondria) from getting broken by these tiny particles. The research offers hope that vitamin C might assist high-risk people within the occasion of bushfires or mud storms, which is frequent in Australia, the place the research was carried out.

“For the primary time we’re offering hope for a low-cost preventative remedy to a world subject affecting lots of of thousands and thousands of individuals,” Distinguished Professor Oliver stated.

He added, “We all know now that there is no such thing as a secure stage of air air pollution, which causes irritation within the lungs and results in myriad respiratory ailments and continual diseases, particularly within the case of bush fires.”

Nevertheless, he cautioned in opposition to utilizing over-the-counter supplementation, saying that it’s straightforward to overdose.  “This research means that taking the very best permitted dose of vitamin C for you’d probably assist, however you would wish to talk along with your GP to be sure to’re taking the correct of complement on the proper ranges and don’t by accident overdose on one thing else included in an over-the-counter complement,” he shares.