Vitamin C, Benefits, Buy Vitamin C, Online - Buy Vitamins, Buy Minerals

Vitamin C is also known in some circles as L-ascorbate or ascorbic acid. It is needed for a range of metabolic functions in both plants and animals, being a cofactor in a number of essential enzymatic reactions, and is also an antioxidant.

Most plants and animals can synthesize their own vitamin c from glucose via an enzyme-powered process, but human beings are one of the rare exceptions due to a defective genetic mutation. This is not a critical problem for us because vitamin C is available in plentiful supply as part of a number of food sources, especially fruit and vegetables.

The human body cannot store vitamin C however, and existing supplies are rapidly depleted. One of the main symptoms of vitamin C deficiency is the disease scurvy, in which collagen synthesized by the body proves too weak to perform its functions normally, leading to liver spots, spongy gums and free bleeding from any mucous membrane. Eventually a scurvy sufferers teeth can fall out, and the disease can be fatal if left unchecked.

The first recorded case of scurvy is thought to have been observed by Hippocrates, somewhere in the region of 400 BC, but the first experiments carried out relating to scurvy and vitamin c were done by British naval surgeon James Lind, who in 1747 tested two groups of sailors, giving one fresh citrus fruit every day and the others none. His findings were slow to be taken up however, firstly because the navy tried boiling down citrus fruit into juice for easier storage (which destroyed the vitamin), but also because they saw it as weakness to pay such attention to the health of their sailors. It wasn’t until 1795 then that citrus fruit became standard issue in the British navy, in the form if limes (which were most available in the colonies). This lead to the adoption of the word ‘limey’ by Americans to describe anyone British.

The recommended daily dose of vitamin C is subject to some debate, with guidelines varying from country to country, from 40mg per day in the UK for example, to 95mg per day in the United States. It is generally acknowledged that a well-balanced diet will contain enough vitamin C without recourse to supplementation, though smokers, pregnant women and those suffering stress may benefit from a little more. Very high doses of vitamin C are to be avoided as they can cause diarrhea.

Vitamin C is possibly the most famous vitamin, and is often touted as a kind of universal panacea for all illnesses, with its various enthusiastic proponents suggesting it as a cure not only for scurvy and the common cold, but also for heart disease, SARS and even AIDS. Most medical professionals find these claims to be ridiculous and lacking in proper scientific evidence and study.

Despite this skepticism, some studies have shown vitamin C supplementation to be effective in a diverse range of treatment situations. It has been shown to suppress HIV replication in the womb, and lower the levels of lead in the blood of smokers by up to 20%. A study in the early nineties showed that vitamin C reduced some symptoms of autism in children, those these results have yet to be properly replicated in further studies. And studies are underway to assess the usefulness of vitamin C delivered intravenously as a possible treatment for cancer. It will be some years before the results of these studies bear fruit however.

Various studies have also suggested a beneficial effect of vitamin C in cases of cardiovascular disease, indicating that ascorbic acid may have a protective quality. In some groups, a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease of as much as 25% was reported for patients who took regular vitamin C supplements at a dosage of around 700mg per day. The studies also indicated that vitamin C ‘saturation’ may be necessary in order to produce maximum health benefits.

A study of residents in a small Japanese community points to vitamin C also being a factor in reducing a person’s risk of suffering a stroke, with the likelihood being around 29% lower in those whose serum levels of vitamin C were highest. The same study emphasized that these benefits may also be due more generally to the high fruit and vegetable consumption of the community.

Vitamin C is the most widely-taken supplement in the world, and comes in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles and drink mixes amongst other things. Despite this however, there are many non-supplemental nutritional forms of vitamin C, mostly in the form of fruits such as the kakadu plum and camu camu, which are right at the top of the list in terms of vitamin c content (3150 and 2800mg per 100g respectively), down to the humble lemon (40mg/100g) and lime (20mg/100g). Even some vegetables such as carrots, lettuce and cucumber contain measurable amounts of vitamin C. Other non-plant sources include animal livers, oysters and milk.

Cooking these foods can lead to the decomposition of vitamin C, so they are best eaten raw. If cooked however, low temperatures are recommended, and vegetables being boiled will often ‘leak’ their nutrients into the water, so if this water can be re-used, often the nutritional value can be retained.

Large doses of vitamin C can cause indigestion, especially if supplements are taken on an empty stomach, and particularly large doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Sustained high doses of vitamin C may lead to the development of kidney stones. or increase the likelihood of miscarriage for pregnant women.

In summary then, vitamin C is an essential vitamin which is necessary to maintain the body’s normal function and to ward of scurvy, which can be unpleasant initially and fatal if left untreated. Vitamin C may also be beneficial in the treatment of many illnesses, such as colds and flu, but also viruses, mental illnesses and possibly cancer.

A balanced diet will usually contain sufficient vitamin C to avoid the need for supplementation, especially if said diet includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, however some people may benefit from taking vitamin C supplements in amounts varying from around 25mg to 200mg per day. Excess consumption of vitamin C is not recommended because of potential side-effects, though dosages would have to be very high and prolonged to make these side-effects likely.