A study has uncovered an unexpected new role for vitamin C: facilitating the generation of embryonic-like stem cells from adult cells.

Adult cells can be reprogrammed into cells with characteristics similar to embryonic stem cells by turning on a select set of genes. Although the reprogrammed cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have tremendous potential for regenerative medicine, the conversion is extremely inefficient.

Researchers have found that adding vitamin C enhanced iPSC generation from both mouse and human cells. Vitamin C accelerated gene expression changes and promoted a more efficient transition to the fully reprogrammed state. Vitamin C seems to act at least in part through slowing cell senescence. PostID=236919″