While many people routinely beef up their vitamin C consumption to boost immunity, scientists in Canada say there’s evidence the vitamin may provide a fountain of youth for many.

A study published in the FASEB Journal has found that increased vitamin C intake can stop and possibly reverse signs of aging associated with Werner’s syndrome, a disease that causes accelerated aging and age-related diseases.

"Our study clearly indicates that a healthy organism or individuals with no health problems do not require a large amount of vitamin C in order to increase their lifespan, especially if they have a balanced diet and they exercise," said the study’s co-author Michel Lebel, Ph.D.

Researchers gave mice with and without the gene for Werner’s syndrome vitamin C-enriched water. The mice with the Werner’s syndrome gene (WRN) were fat, diabetic and developing heart disease and cancer before receiving the vitamin C. However, once treated with the vitamin, they were as healthy as the normal mice and lived a normal lifespan. Vitamin C also improved how the mice stored and burned fat, decreased tissue inflammation and decreased oxidative stress in the WRN mice.

Vitamin C provides protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease and even skin wrinkling. Health experts suggest adults get between 75 and 90 milligrams of the vitamin each day. It is widely available in supplement form, as well as in dietary sources like orange juice, red peppers, broccoli and cantaloupe.