Role of Antioxidant Vitamins in Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is vital in the preservation of cognition. Previous studies have reported antioxidant vitamins as a key regulatory factor in neurogenesis. However, current research investigating their role is inconclusive due to the limited number of studies that have been conducted and conflicting results. This review evaluates the scientific evidence behind the potential roles of antioxidant vitamins in neurogenesis. Observations concerned with the mechanistic and functional aspects of how antioxidant vitamins modulate neurogenesis are both assessed. Vitamin A is evidently involved in cell cycle regulation and cell proliferation; vitamin C reportedly promotes neural differentiation and maturation while inhibiting neurite outgrowth; vitamin E is identified to inhibit cell proliferation while improving cell viability. Varying antioxidant vitamin concentrations have been implicated in facilitating cognition in terms of attention, memory, language, and executive function. Moreover, this review suggests a threshold antioxidant vitamin concentration that should be maintained to promote optimal levels of adult neurogenesis.