Interferon production ascorbic acid

Dahl, H., and Degr4. M. The effect of ascorbic acid on production of human interferon and the antiviral activity in vitro. Acta Pathol. Micro- 122. biol. Scand. Sect. B.84 280-284.1976. 

Siegel, B. V. Enhancement of interferon production by poly(rl) poly(rC) in mouse cell cultures by ascorbic acid. Nature (Lond.). 2M 1-, 197. ... 

With regard to the mechanism of its possible antiviral activity, we have observed an increase in interferon production by ascorbic acid following stimulation of mouse L cell cultures with poly (rI) poly (rC) (Siegel, 1975). We have also noted an enhancement of interferon production vivo following stimulation with Rauscher leukemia virus in BALB/c mice treated with 250 mg% L-ascorbic acid in the drinking water (Siegel, 1974). Thus, the antiviral activity of ascorbic acid may be due, in part, to enhanced interferon production however, the mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated. 

There has been no demonstrable effect of ascorbic acid (at 3 g/day) on the magnitude of viral multiplication or shedding from the nose, the rate of development or magnitude of local or circulating antibody, or the degree of infection-induced reduction in the flow of the nasal mucociliary blanket.25,34 interferon production appears to be neither enhanced nor suppressed by the presence of additional ascorbic acid or by the scorbutic state,... 

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