Health benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective nutrients. It is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues. It’s involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, teeth. Good sources of vitamin C are fresh fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits. Vitamin C, also available from supplements.
Some of the health benefits of vitamin C
May reduce your risk of chronic disease
- Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that can boost your blood antioxidant levels.
- This may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.
May help manage high blood pressure
- Approximately one-third of American adults have high blood pressure.
- High blood pressure puts you at risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death globally.
- Studies have shown that vitamin C may help lower blood pressure in both those with and without high blood pressure.
May lower your risk of heart disease
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Vitamin C supplements have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
- These supplements may lower heart disease risk factors, including high blood levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.Triglycerides are fats from the food we eat that are carried in the blood. Excess calories, alcohol or sugar in the body turn into triglycerides.
May reduce blood uric acid levels and help prevent gout attacks
- Gout is a type of arthritis that affects approximately 4% of American adults. It’s incredibly painful and involves inflammation of the joints, especially those of the big toes.
- Vitamin-C-rich foods and supplements have been linked to reduced blood uric acid levels and lower risk of gout.
Helps prevent iron deficiency
- Iron is an important nutrient that has a variety of functions in the body. It’s essential for making red blood cells and transporting oxygen throughout the body.
- Vitamin C can improve the absorption of iron that is poorly absorbed, such as iron from meat-free sources. It may also reduce the risk of iron deficiency.
Boosts immunity
- One of the main reasons people take vitamin C supplements is to boost their immunity, as vitamin C is involved in many parts of the immune system.
- Vitamin C may boost immunity by helping white blood cells function more effectively, strengthening your skin’s defense system, and helping wounds heal faster.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy. Topical vitamin C is clinically proven to have a wide range of clinical applications thanks to its antioxidant, antiaging, antipigmentary properties. This potent nutrient offers many benefits for the skin:
- Make collagen, used to keep skin youthful and plump
- Heal wounds
- Maintain and repair damaged skin and cartilage
- Diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Brighten up complexion
- Even skin tone
- Reduce the appearance of dark spots
- Prevent premature aging
What is the recommended intake of Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, plays a role in many vital functions, including metabolism and immunity. We can’t make vitamin C in the body, so we need to get it from dietary sources. It’s found in high concentrations in many fresh fruits and vegetables (see the image); it’s also available in most multivitamins and as a single-ingredient supplement.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin C ranges from 15–75 mg for children, 75 mg for adult women, 90 mg for adult men, and 85–120 mg for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
For adults, the tolerable upper intake level (UL) — the highest daily intake likely to pose no risks — is 2,000 mg per day.
Although too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, megadoses of vitamin C supplements might cause: Diarrhea.
Evidence Indicating That Vitamin C Might Influence COVID-19:
Although there is as yet no direct evidence indicating that vitamin C is beneficial specifically against COVID-19, the reported benefits of vitamin C in the ICU context suggest that it could be considered for patients. Based on the dose vs. plasma level analyses, it is unlikely that a healthy person would benefit from daily vitamin C doses over 0.5 g/day. However, for patients suffering from coronavirus infection, 6–8 g/day of oral vitamin C was significantly more effective than 3–4 g/day.