Vitamin C is one of the most commonly supplemented nutrients. Although it is probably best known for its importance to immunity, vitamin C research has revealed multiple other functions within the body. Vitamin C is water-soluble, which is an important factor in its function. It is also known as ascorbate or ascorbic acid.
Functions of vitamin C:
Antioxidant: One of the most powerful functions of vitamin C is as a water-soluble antioxidant (i.e. a reducing agent). When vitamin C reduces (or quenches) free radicals, it becomes oxidized itself. High tissue levels of ascorbate provide substantial antioxidant protection where free radicals are encountered. This antioxidant activity is one of the main properties that make vitamin C protective for cardiovascular and cognitive health.
Immune support: Vitamin C has multiple effects on the immune system and has been shown to be supportive for a number of different immune cells. Leukocytes including lymphocytes can actively accumulate vitamin C against a concentration gradient demonstrating the importance of vitamin C in these cells. Vitamin C has functional as well as developmental effects on immune cells. In fact, vitamin C has a key role in both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Natural Killer Cells: in clinical studies, vitamin C treatment of healthy subjects promoted and enhanced natural killer cell activities. It has been shown that monocytes contain a high concentration of vitamin C suggesting the regulatory role of this vitamin in monocyte and macrophage functions.
Antimicrobial: Not only does vitamin C protect from pathogens by supporting immune function but it also acts directly as an antimicrobial. It is known that several bacteria can ferment vitamin C, whereas the presence of this vitamin exposes other species to oxidative stress, which may result in bacterial growth inhibition. The potent antibacterial effects of vitamin C are, at least in part, due to its low ph.
Energy: Vitamin C is also essential for normal energy production by supporting mitochondrial function. It is needed for two deoxygenate enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of carnitine, an essential cofactor in the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria.
Research
Mortality: There are many functions and benefits to the health of vitamin C but does it have any effect on mortality? Epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin C status is associated with a reduced incidence of death in certain populations. In the EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study, the plasma concentration of ascorbic acid was inversely related to mortality from all causes as well as from cardiovascular disease and ischemic heart disease.
Cardiovascular health: It is suggested that supplementation with vitamin C reduces hyperglycemia and lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension by enhancing the formation of prostaglandin E1, prostacyclin, and endothelial nitric oxide in addition to restoring essential fatty acid metabolism to normal and enhancing the formation of lipoxin A4, a potent anti-inflammatory, vasodilator and antioxidant.
Infection: Vitamin C has long been associated with supporting immune function and therefore preventing or reducing the duration of infections. Studies have demonstrated that supplementation with vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Prophylactic prevention of infection requires dietary vitamin C intakes that provide at least adequate (i.e. 100-200 mg/day), to optimize cell and tissue levels. In contrast, treatment of established infections requires significantly higher (gram) doses of the vitamin to compensate for the increased inflammatory response and metabolic demand.
Skin: Vitamin C plays an important role in maintaining skin health and can promote the differentiation of keratinocytes and decrease melanin synthesis, leading to antioxidant protection against UV-induced photodamage. Normal skin needs high concentrations of vitamin C, which plays many roles in the skin, including the formation of the skin barrier and collagen in the dermis, the ability to counteract skin oxidation, and the modulation of cell signal pathways of cell growth and differentiation.
Vitamin C has been effective for:
·Acne scars – improves skin hardness, smoothness, and post-inflammatory pigmentation.
·Allergic contact dermatitis – reduces the sensitivity to ap-phenylenediamine (PPD)-containing hair dye.
·Psoriatic – supports normal keratinocytes.
·Genital herpes – improves immunity and natural defenses and reduces the persistence of HPV infection.
·Vitiligo – increases hyperpigmentation at pigment diminished spots.
Drink lots of water, get lots
of sleep, and take VITAMIN C