Higher Vitamin C Levels May Signal A Healthier Brain Artwork

Natural Eye Care with Dr. Marc Grossman, Holistic Optometrist

Leading Holistic Optometrist Dr. Marc R. Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. hosts the Natural Eye Care Podcast: approaches to vision problems, eye health, and overall health backed by research and his 40+ years of experience with patients. Most eye diseases strike seniors. Find out how lifestyle, diet, and nutrition can help maintain healthy vision and even improve eyesight. An Holistic Eye Doctor is dedicated to helping people with such conditions ranging from myopia and dry eyes to potentially vision-threatening diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma. Dr. Grossman's podcasts cover a multi-disciplinary approach including nutrition, eye exercises, lifestyle changes, and Chinese Medicine. Dr. Grossman founded the Rye Learning Center in 1980, a multidisciplinary center for learning problems, in 1996 co-founded Integral Health Associates in New Paltz, New York, and in 1999 co-founded Natural Eye Care, Inc. His background includes degrees in Optometry, Biology, Physical Education and Learning Disabilities, coupled with yoga, bioenergetics, nutrition, Chinese medicine and acupuncture, the Alexander technique and Feldenkrais. He is co-author of half a dozen books on vision, including "Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Health Vision and Healing" in 2019. Dr. Grossman takes an integrated approach to vision and its influence on the body, mind, and spirit. His lectures and private consultations are in high demand.

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Natural Eye Care with Dr. Marc Grossman, Holistic Optometrist

Higher Vitamin C Levels May Signal A Healthier Brain

August 07, 2026 • Dr. Marc R Grossman, OD, L.Ac. • Season 7 • Episode 9

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Vitamin C gets treated like a one-note “immune vitamin,” but the real story is bigger and far more relevant to healthy aging. We dig into what ascorbic acid actually does in the body, from collagen production and blood vessel support to antioxidant protection that matters for high-demand tissues like the brain and the eyes. If you care about preserving vision, protecting your lens, and supporting long-term cognitive health, this conversation reframes vitamin C as a daily essential, not a seasonal add-on.

We also walk through compelling research in older adults showing an association between lower plasma vitamin C levels and lower gray matter volume plus weaker connectivity in key brain networks tied to memory, attention, and self-reflection. That’s not proof of cause and effect, but it’s a strong signal that vitamin C status may be a useful biomarker for healthier brain aging. We keep it grounded by zooming out to the full nutrition and lifestyle picture, including omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin E, carotenoids, exercise, sleep, blood sugar control, blood pressure control, and cognitive engagement.

On the vision side, we explain why the eye is so vulnerable to oxidative stress from light exposure, high oxygen use, inflammation, and time. Vitamin C concentrates in the aqueous humor and lens, helping defend against protein damage linked with cataracts, and it supports collagen that helps maintain the structure of the cornea, vitreous, retina, and ocular blood vessels. We also cover how vitamin C fits into the AREDS nutrient formula for age-related macular degeneration progression and why glaucoma conversations often include oxidative stress and vascular support. You’ll leave with a clear list of vitamin C-rich foods, practical timing tips for a water-soluble vitamin, and a realistic view of where supplements may fit. Subscribe, share this with a friend who cares about eye health, and leave a review with your biggest question about vitamins for brain and vision aging.

For more information, visit naturaleyecare.com and drgrossman2020.com

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Why Vitamin C Matters Again

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hi, I'm Dr. Mark Grossman, integrative medical optometrist, acupuncturist, in practice for over 46 years, and author of five books on natural eye care. And today's podcast is on something we all know about. That's right. Vitamin C. That's right, vitamin C is back, especially for brain and vision health. Vitamin C is best known for immune support, but its role in healthy aging is even more than that. Ascorbic acid, the chemical name for vitamin C, helps the body to make collagen, supports blood vessel integrity, assists wound healing, improves the absorption of iron from plant foods, and acts as an antioxidant, all super important for the eyes, the retina, the vitreous. These functions matter throughout the body, including the eyes and the brain. A recent study of older adults said another reason to pay attention to vitamin C. Researchers found that lower plasma vitamin C levels were associated with lower gray matter volume in the brain, weaker connectivity in the major brain networks involving memory, attention, and self-reflection. This study does not prove that vitamin C prevents brain shrinkage or cognitive decline, but it does suggest that having healthy vitamin C levels may be a good biomarker for healthy brain aging. Vitamin C is not a standalone answer to brain aging. The brain depends on many nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin E, and carotenoids. A healthy diet, regular exercise, proper sleep, blood sugar control, blood pressure control, and cognitive engagement are all

Vitamin C And Vision Protection

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matters to help the brain. However, vitamin C is worth noting because humans cannot make vitamin C. We must get it from our foods or supplements. Vitamin C and vision health. The eye is especially vulnerable to oxidative stress, which is light exposure, high oxygen use, inflammation, blood vessel stress, and normal aging all increase the need for antioxidant protection. Vitamin C is naturally concentrated in several specific eye tissues, including the aqueous humor and the lens of the eye. That's why it's important for preventing cataracts. Vitamin C also supports collagen formation. Collagen is essential for connective tissue, blood vessel walls, and structural support throughout the body. In the eye, it's especially important for the cornea, the blood vessels, the vitreous body, the retina, and tissues that help maintain the shape and stability of the eyes. So low vitamin C levels can make you more possibly vulnerable to retinal detachments. Vitamin C is relevant to several major age-related eye concerns, such as cataracts and posterior vitreous detachments. Macular degeneration. The age-related eye disease study, known as Arids, showed that a specific combination of nutrients can reduce the risk of progression from age-related macular degeneration to advanced macular degeneration by 25%. And vitamin C is one component of that formula, along with vitamin E, zinc, copper, lutein, and zeoxanthin. This does not mean that vitamin C prevents macular degeneration from developing, but we know that it can help slow down the progression.

Macular Degeneration And AREDS Nutrients

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In cataracts, the lens of the eye is exposed to decades of light and oxidative stress. Over time, proteins in the lens can become damaged, contributing to clouding and cataract formation. Vitamin C found in high levels in the lens and surrounding fluids helps protect against this oxidative stress. Studies have shown that higher vitamin C intake or higher blood levels of vitamin C are associated with lower risk of cataracts, especially the common one called nuclear cataracts. Glaucoma and vitamin C. High eye pressure is an important risk factor, but blood flow, mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, and inflammation may also play a role in the development of glaucoma. Vitamin C may support glaucoma-related health through its antioxidant effects and its support for blood vessels and connective tissue. Some studies suggest a relationship between dietary vitamin C and lower glaucoma risk. Vitreous and connective tissue support, like I spoke about before, essential for collagen

Cataracts Glaucoma And Collagen Support

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production. So I always tell people to take vitamin C and do bone broth, also good for collagen formation, which makes it relevant to connective tissue health throughout the body. The vitreous body is a gel-like structure that helps maintain the eye's shape. With age, the vitreous can shrink or pull away from the retina, leading to floaters or posterior vitreous detachment. Vitamin C is not a treatment for vitreous detachment, but its role in collagen formation and tissue repair makes it an important nutrient that supports the body's general connective tissue maintenance. Other health benefits. It supports immune function, wound healing, and iron absorption. It also plays a role in skin health, blood vessel strength, and normal connective tissue repair. The best food sources are vitamin C. Excellent sources are rose hips, sweet red peppers, oranges, grapefruits, kiwis, strawberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes. Many colorful fruits and vegetables provide vitamin C along with fiber, flavonoids, carotenoids, and potassium. So once again, eat your fruits and vegetables, green leafies. But remember, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, so it does the body

Food Sources Dosing Tips And Closing

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doesn't store large amounts for long periods. So I always tell people if they're going to take it as a supplement, do it in divided doses. And if you're going to eat your fruits, eat them throughout the day. So as you can see, it's not just an immune vitamin, it does so many other things that are good for the brain and the eye. So visit us at naturaleyecare.com and see my Dr. Grossman's vitamin C made from the highest concentration fruit of vitamin C, the amla fruit. Have a great day.