Commentary
Senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) is a multifunctional protein involved in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and the biosynthesis of ascorbate in non-primate mammals. It was recently recognised as a gluconolactonase. Vitamin C had definite effects on lipid metabolism, but the precise relation between vitamin C and lipid metabolism in NAFLD is not completely understood.
TThis animal study by S. W. Lee et al. (Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea) aimed to reveal the role of vitamin C in NAFLD progression.
For the authors, the present study “demonstrates that chronic vitamin C deficiency decreases NAFLD progression through impaired cholesterol to bile acid transformation, thereby suppressing de novo lipogenesis.” They propose novel evidence the vitamin C plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism regardless of its antioxidant effects.
