What You Should Know About Vitamin C ?

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Most plants and animals can produce their own vitamin C, but humans cannot. For this reason, humans must get vitamin C from the diet every day.

Here are facts, cautions and warnings about vitamin C you should know.

1. Vitamin C is a highly effective anti-oxidant. An anti-oxidant is a molecule that slows or prevents cell damage caused by free-radicals. A build up of free radicals over time is responsible for the aging process and can contribute to the development of cancer, heart disease, and inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Anti-oxidants can also help rid the body of pollutants like cigarette smoke.

2. The body also needs vitamin C to make collagen, a protein required to help wounds heal. In addition, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron from plant-based foods and helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease.

3. Skin creams containing vitamin C or vitamin C in combination with acetyl tyrosine, zinc sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, and bioflavonoids helps to improve wrinkles in facial skin aged by sun exposure.

4. Vitamin C might raise blood sugar. In older women with diabetes, vitamin C in amounts greater than 300 mg per day increases the risk of death from heart disease. Do not take vitamin C in doses greater than those found in basic multivitamins.

5. Vitamin C might make sickle cell disease worse. Avoid using large amounts of vitamin C.

6. Vitamin should not be taken together with antacid that contains aluminium. Antacid are medications used in treating ulcers and heartburns. Vitamin C can increase how much aluminum the body absorbs. Take vitamin C two hours before or four hours after antacids.

7. Vitamin C helps to repair and regenerate tissues, protect against heart disease, and decrease total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides.

8. Vitamin C may help protect against a variety of cancers by combating free radicals, and helping neutralize the effects of nitrites (preservatives found in some packaged foods that may raise the risk of certain forms of cancer).

9. Vitamin C may lessen the duration and symptoms of a common cold; help delay or prevent cataracts; and support healthy immune function.

10. Taking large doses of vitamin C might reduce how much of some medications used for HIV/AIDS stays in the body. This could decrease the effectiveness of some medications used for HIV/AIDS.

11. Taking vitamin C, beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamin E together might decrease the effectiveness of some medications used for lowering cholesterol. It is not known if vitamin C alone decreases the effectiveness of some medications used for lowering cholesterol.

12. High doses of vitamin C (greater than 2,000 mg/day) may contribute to the formation of kidney stones, as well as cause severe diarrhoea, nausea, and gastritis.

13. Vitamin C is required for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body. It is essential for life and in healing wounds and maintaining the integrity of gums, bones, and teeth.

14. Be careful when using vitamin C with oral contraceptives. The body breaks down estrogens to get rid of them. Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of estrogens. Taking vitamin C along with estrogens might increase the effects and side effects of estrogens.

15. Some evidence suggests that taking vitamin C with the antibiotic tetracycline may increase the levels of this medication; it may also decrease the effects of vitamin C in the body. Other antibiotics in the same family include minocycline and doxycycline





References:

Office of dietary supplements

MedicinePlus

MDH