Vitamin C

Definition

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for the body but cannot be synthesized on its own.

Vitamin C is an important nutrient that helps the body form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in bones. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals – molecules produced when the body digests food or is exposed to cigarette smoke and radiation.

Free radicals can contribute to heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Vitamin C also helps the body absorb and store iron.

Uses

Vitamin C has many health benefits:

• Increase iron absorption: Combining vitamin C with iron helps the body absorb iron more effectively.
• Improve genetic disorders: Vitamin C helps reduce tyrosine levels in the blood, supporting the treatment of genetic disorders in infants.
• Reduce protein in urine: Combining vitamin C with vitamin E can reduce the amount of protein in urine, especially in people with diabetes.
• Immune system support: Vitamin C increases the production and protection of white blood cells, improves resistance and helps wounds heal faster.
• Prevent memory loss: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect memory.
• Reduce stress: Vitamin C supplementation helps reduce stress, especially in people with deficiencies.
• Reduce the risk of stroke: High levels of vitamin C can reduce the risk of stroke.
• Anti-aging skin: Vitamin C helps reduce wrinkles and makes skin smoother.
• Limit cardiovascular disease: Vitamin C helps reduce bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, and prevent high blood pressure.
• Increase physical performance: Vitamin C supplementation improves performance and muscle, improving endurance during exercise.

Requirements

Vitamin C requirements vary by age, gender and health status. Specifically as follows:

• 0 – 6 months old: 40 mg
• 7 – 12 months old: 50 mg
• 1 – 3 years old: 15 mg
• 4 – 8 years old: 25 mg
• 9 – 13 years old: 45 mg
• 14 – 18 years old: 75mg (male), 65mg (female)
• Over 19 years old: 90mg (male), 75mg (female).

Pregnant women need about 80 mg/day, while breastfeeding women need up to 120 mg/day. Smokers need 35 mg more vitamin C per day than non-smokers.

How to supplement

Supplement Vitamin C through diet

Supplementing vitamin C in the simplest and most natural way is through food. Rich sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits and lemons; Berries such as strawberries, mulberries and blueberries; Green vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and bell peppers are also very good…

Supplement vitamin C in pill form

Vitamin C pills are a simple way to supplement the amount of vitamin C that the body needs. Currently, there are many forms such as tablets, capsules or effervescent tablets, making it easy for you to choose the right type.

Although vitamin C tablets are a convenient option for supplementation, you need to use them correctly and combine them with a healthy diet to achieve the best results.

Intravenous vitamin C

Intravenous vitamin C is a way to provide vitamin C directly into the blood, helping the body absorb vitamin C more quickly and effectively than taking vitamin C orally. This method is often used in special cases when the body cannot absorb vitamin C through the digestive tract, such as when seriously ill, malnourished or with intestinal problems.

With this method, vitamin C is delivered directly into the blood so the body absorbs it immediately without going through the digestive system. At the same time, the dosage of vitamin C can be adjusted precisely to suit the needs of each patient.

Side effects

Vitamin C supplements in reasonable doses are safe for the body. However, if you overdose, you may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, esophagitis, intestinal obstruction, stomach cramps, fatigue, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, insomnia and a high risk of forming kidney stones.

Interactions (if any)

Vitamin C may interact with certain medications, affecting their effectiveness:

• Aluminum: Taking vitamin C may increase the body’s ability to absorb aluminum from medications containing aluminum, such as phosphate binders.
• Chemotherapy: Vitamin C may decrease the effectiveness of cancer medications when used with chemotherapy.
• Estrogen: Vitamin C may increase estrogen levels when taken with birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.
• Protease inhibitors: Vitamin C may decrease the effectiveness of antiviral medications such as protease inhibitors.
• Warfarin: High doses of vitamin C may decrease the effectiveness of the anticoagulant warfarin.