ArticleAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Effect of Aptamin C on NK Cell Activity and Cytotoxicity: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial and In Vitro Comparison with Vitamin C.
Article in Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Targeting Reactive Species Stress and Nutrient Sensing to Enhance NK-Cell Function: Mechanistic Strategies for Overcoming Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Resistance Through Supplement Therapy.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
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6 authors.
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial components of innate immunity and rapidly eliminate abnormal cells through ligand-receptor signaling without prior sensitization. Vitamin C is known to enhance NK cell function; however, its susceptibility to oxidation may limit its efficacy in NK cell activation. This study evaluated the efficacy of Aptamin C, a stabilized conjugate of vitamin C and an aptamer, in enhancing NK cell activation. In the in vivo randomized placebo-controlled study, 120 participants were randomized to receive either Aptamin C or placebo, and 109 participants were included in the final analysis. Participants received Aptamin C at a dose of 36.057 mg/day or placebo for 4 weeks. The results showed significant increases in NK cell cytotoxicity after 2 and 4 weeks in the Aptamin C group. Additionally, serum levels of cytokines and cytotoxic granules associated with NK cell activity peaked 4 weeks after Aptamin C intake. Subgroup analysis showed that the enhancing effect of Aptamin C on NK cell activity was mainly observed in participants older than 40 years, whereas no significant effects were detected in participants aged <40 years. In the in vitro study, NK-92 cells treated with Aptamin C were compared with NK-92 cells treated with vitamin C. Aptamin C treatment enhanced proliferation, survival, cytotoxicity, and cytotoxic granule production in NK-92 cells compared with vitamin C treatment. These findings indicate that Aptamin C may effectively promote NK cell activation, particularly in middle-aged and older adults, and suggest its potential as an immunomodulatory supplement for supporting NK cell function.
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