What is the common name for vitamin C?
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, and also sold as a dietary supplement. It is used to prevent and treat scurvy. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue, the formation of collagen, and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters.
Is vitamin C worth it?
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What does vitamin C stand for?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy.
Is vitamin C the same as calcium?
No, although both are nutrients, they are two different nutrients. Calcium is a mineral, and Vitamin C is a vitamin. Calcium is the key ingredient in bones and teeth, while Vitamin C helps keep the immune system strong. No, they are not the same, they are two different chemicals.
What is the brand name of vitamin C?
Ascorbic Acid is available under the following different brand and other names: Cenolate, and Vitamin C.
Does vitamin C go by another name?
Other names for vitamin C include L-ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid, and L-ascorbate.
What type of vitamin C is best?
Form: Liposomal Vitamin C This form is the best absorbed and is great for those with digestive problems because it can be absorbed without fully going through the digestive system. Liposomal vitamin C is often made with sunflower lecithin which can help the liver detoxify the body from toxins.
What is the most absorbable vitamin C?
One report suggested that liposomal-encapsulated vitamin C may be better absorbed than the vitamin in a non-encapsulated form (21). Large-scale, pharmacokinetic studies are needed to determine how the bioavailability of these vitamin C formulations compares to that of ascorbic acid.
Is citric acid another name for vitamin C?
Ascorbic acid and citric acid can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. They are often confused with one another because of their similar names and similar sources of origin, however, ascorbic acid and citric acid are not the same. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C and citric acid is an acidic antioxidant.
How is vitamin C listed in ingredients?
Vitamin C is used in cosmetic under 2 forms : ascorbic acid or pure vitamin C, commonly named vitamin C, and ascorbyl glucoside or vitamin C glucoside, named vitamin CG. In our cosmetic products, they appear in the list of ingredients on the packaging under the names ASCORBIC ACID and ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE.
Are there different types of vitamin C?
Other forms of vitamin C supplements include sodium ascorbate; calcium ascorbate; other mineral ascorbates; ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids; and combination products, such as Ester-C®, which contains calcium ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, calcium threonate, xylonate and lyxonate [17].
Why vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid?
Later on, Szent Györgyi and Haworth chemically identified "C" as ascorbic acid, and named it so because ascorbic means "anti-scurvy." Over the next century, what we now know as vitamin C became one of the most popular drugs in human history.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Vitamin C if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a vitamin C supplement.Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using Vitamin C i...
How Should I Take Vitamin C?
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.The r...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Vitamin C?
Other drugs may interact with ascorbic acid, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of you...
Where can I get ascorbic acid?
It is best to get your vitamins from healthy foods. Ascorbic acid is commonly found in citrus fruit (such as oranges), tomatoes, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli, among others. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nutritionist for more details.
How to take vitamin powder?
If you are taking the powder, mix it thoroughly in the proper amount of liquid or soft food and stir well. Take all of the mixture right away. Do not prepare a supply for future use. If you are using the liquid form of this vitamin, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.
Can ascorbic acid cause allergies?
Precautions. Before taking ascorbic acid, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as peanut/soy), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
When was vitamin C discovered?
Vitamin C was discovered in 1912, isolated in 1928, and, in 1933, was the first vitamin to be chemically produced. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Vitamin C is available as an inexpensive generic and over-the-counter medication.
What foods contain vitamin C?
Foods containing vitamin C include citrus fruits, kiwifruit, guava, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bell peppers and strawberries.
Why is ascorbic acid not conserved?
Given that ascorbate has these important functions, it is surprising that the ability to synthesize this molecule has not always been conserved. In fact, anthropoid primates, Cavia porcellus (guinea pigs), teleost fishes, most bats, and some passerine birds have all independently lost the ability to internally synthesize Vitamin C in either the kidney or the liver. In all of the cases where genomic analysis was done on an ascorbic acid auxotroph, the origin of the change was found to be a result of loss-of-function mutations in the gene that codes for L-Gulono-γ-lactone oxidase, the enzyme that catalyzes the last step of the ascorbic acid pathway outlined above. One explanation for the repeated loss of the ability to synthesize vitamin C is that it was the result of genetic drift; assuming that the diet was rich in vitamin C, natural selection would not act to preserve it.
What is the role of vitamin C in biochemistry?
Another biochemical role of vitamin C is to act as an antioxidant (a reducing agent) by donating electrons to various enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. Doing so converts vitamin C to an oxidized state - either as semidehydroascorbic acid or dehydroascorbic acid.
What is the role of vitamin C in enzymatic reactions?
Vitamin C functions as a cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in animals (including humans) that mediate a variety of essential biological functions, including wound healing and collagen synthesis. In humans, vitamin C deficiency leads to impaired collagen synthesis, contributing to the more severe symptoms of scurvy. Another biochemical role of vitamin C is to act as an antioxidant ( a reducing agent) by donating electrons to various enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. Doing so converts vitamin C to an oxidized state - either as semidehydroascorbic acid or dehydroascorbic acid. These compounds can be restored to a reduced state by glutathione and NADPH -dependent enzymatic mechanisms.
How much vitamin C is needed for lactation?
India, on the other hand, has set recommendations much lower: 40 mg/day for ages 1 through adult, 60 mg/day for pregnancy, and 80 mg/day for lactation. Clearly, there is not consensus among countries. Cigarette smokers and people exposed to secondhand smoke have lower serum vitamin C levels than nonsmokers.
How long does it take for scurvy to show up after taking vitamin C?
Men in the prison study developed the first signs of scurvy about four weeks after starting the vitamin C-free diet, whereas in the earlier British study, six to eight months were required, possibly due to the pre-loading of this group with a 70 mg/day supplement for six weeks before the scorbutic diet was fed.
What is vitamin C?
Due to its function as an antioxidant and its role in immune function, vitamin C has been promoted as a means to help prevent and/or treat numerous health conditions. This section focuses on four diseases and disorders in which vitamin C might play a role: cancer (including prevention and treatment), cardiovascular disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, and the common cold.
What is the best source of vitamin C?
Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of vitamin C (see Table 2) [ 12 ]. Citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato juice, and potatoes are major contributors of vitamin C to the American diet [ 8 ]. Other good food sources include red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, Brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe (see Table 2) [ 8, 12 ]. Although vitamin C is not naturally present in grains, it is added to some fortified breakfast cereals. The vitamin C content of food may be reduced by prolonged storage and by cooking because ascorbic acid is water soluble and is destroyed by heat [ 6, 8 ]. Steaming or microwaving may lessen cooking losses. Fortunately, many of the best food sources of vitamin C, such as fruits and vegetables, are usually consumed raw. Consuming five varied servings of fruits and vegetables a day can provide more than 200 mg of vitamin C.
What did Linus Pauling suggest about vitamin C?
In the 1970s Linus Pauling suggested that vitamin C could successfully treat and/or prevent the common cold [ 79 ]. Results of subsequent controlled studies have been inconsistent, resulting in confusion and controversy, although public interest in the subject remains high [ 80, 81 ].
How much vitamin C is absorbed daily?
Approximately 70%–90% of vitamin C is absorbed at moderate intakes of 30–180 mg/day.
What is the role of vitamin C in wound healing?
Vitamin C is required for the biosynthesis of collagen, L-carnitine, and certain neurotransmitters; vitamin C is also involved in protein metabolism [ 1, 2 ]. Collagen is an essential component of connective tissue, which plays a vital role in wound healing.
Why do smokers have lower vitamin C levels?
Studies consistently show that smokers have lower plasma and leukocyte vitamin C levels than nonsmokers, due in part to increased oxidative stress [ 8 ]. For this reason, the IOM concluded that smokers need 35 mg more vitamin C per day than nonsmokers [ 8 ]. Exposure to secondhand smoke also decreases vitamin C levels. Although the IOM was unable to establish a specific vitamin C requirement for nonsmokers who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, these individuals should ensure that they meet the RDA for vitamin C [ 4, 8 ].
Is vitamin C deficiency rare?
Today, vitamin C deficiency and scurvy are rare in developed countries [ 8 ]. Overt deficiency symptoms occur only if vitamin C intake falls below approximately 10 mg/day for many weeks [ 5-8, 22, 23 ]. Vitamin C deficiency is uncommon in developed countries but can still occur in people with limited food variety.
Overview
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, and also sold as a dietary supplement. It is used to prevent and treat scurvy. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue, the formation of collagen, and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters. It is required for the functio…
Definition
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for certain animals including humans. The term vitamin C encompasses several vitamers that have vitamin C activity in animals. Ascorbate salts such as sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate are used in some dietary supplements. These release ascorbate upon digestion. Ascorbate and ascorbic acid are both naturally present in the body, since the forms interconvert according to pH. Oxidized forms of the molecule such as dehydroas…
Deficiency
Vitamin C blood serum levels are considered saturated at levels > 65 μmol/L (1.1 mg/dL), achieved by consuming amounts which are at, or above, the Recommended Dietary Allowance, while adequate levels are defined as ≥ 50 μmol/L. Hypovitaminosis in the case of vitamin C is defined as ≤ 23 μmol/L and deficiency occurs at ≤ 11.4 μmol/L. For those 20 years of age or above, data from the U.S. 2003-04 NHANES survey showed mean and median serum concentrations of 49.0 and 5…
Medical uses
Vitamin C has a definitive role in treating scurvy, which is a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Beyond that, a role for vitamin C as prevention or treatment for various diseases is disputed, with reviews reporting conflicting results. A 2012 Cochrane review reported no effect of vitamin C supplementation on overall mortality. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential M…
Side effects
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, with dietary excesses not absorbed, and excesses in the blood rapidly excreted in the urine, so it exhibits remarkably low acute toxicity. More than two to three grams may cause indigestion, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. However, taking vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate may minimize this effect. Other symptoms reported for large doses include nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Thes…
Diet
Recommendations for vitamin C intake by adults have been set by various national agencies:
• 40 milligrams per day: India National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
• 45 milligrams per day or 300 milligrams per week: the World Health Organization
• 80 milligrams per day: the European Commission Council on nutrition labeling
Sources
The richest natural sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables. The vitamin is the most widely taken dietary supplement.
While plant foods are generally a good source of vitamin C, the amount in foods of plant origin depends on the variety of the plant, soil condition, climate where it grew, length of time since it was picked, storage conditions, and method of preparation. The following table is approximate a…
Pharmacology
Vitamin C – specifically, in the form of ascorbate – performs numerous physiological functions in the human body by serving as an enzyme substrate or cofactor and an electron donor. These functions include the synthesis of collagen, carnitine, and neurotransmitters; the synthesis and catabolism of tyrosine; and the metabolism of microsome. During biosynthesis, ascorbate acts as a reducing agent, donating electrons and preventing oxidation to keep iron and copper atoms in …