Ascorbic acid was administered to three other patients, with satisfactory improvement of neutrophil function and long-lasting clinical remission. We have investigated the effects of supplementation of the diet with the antioxidant vitamins C and E on several functions of the immune response of aged women. In addition, we also determined the levels of serum cortisol and lipid peroxides. These findings suggest an important role of antioxidant supplementation in the improvement of immune function in aged females as well as in the prevention and treatment of specific diseases associated with age that are quite prevalent in the developed countries. Levy R, Schlaeffer F Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Soroka Medical Center of Kupat Holim, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Neutrophils play a critical role in host defense against a variety of microbial pathogens.
There is much information to suggest a role for vitamin C in the physiology of neutrophils. Thus, the effects of vitamin C treatment were studied in a patient with a history of recurrent furunculosis who showed altered neutrophil functions. Superoxide generation was measured by cytochrome C reduction. Phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan by neutrophils and chemotaxis on agarose plates were determined. Chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and superoxide generation of the patient's neutrophils were significantly lower than those of the matched control.