VITAMIN C – Ascorbic acid
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin that is require by our body. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin. It helps to maintain our skin and connective tissue. It is also will help the bowel (or guts) to absorb iron for the production of blood cells. We can say that vitamin C supplement can be given as part of treatment for anemia.
Many animals can synthesizes vitamin C in their body however some mammals like guinea pigs, humans and some other primates cannot so we have to take vitamin C orally either taking food that contains vitamin C or taking the vitamin C supplement in tablet. There is a continuing debate about the optimum requirement of the vitamin C. For UK Standard Agency the requirement is 40mg per day while US Food and Nutrition Board is between 60-95mg per day. Some researchers have calculated the amount of vitamin C needed for human (to achieve similar blood serum level of vitamin C synthesizing mammals) between 400 – 18000mg per day. Because of the ongoing debate, I would like to personally advice my patients to take between 50-100mg daily during normal days and 500mg – 1000mg daily during acute stage (common cold or any form of infection).
Scurvy is a condition or disease that is associated by lacking of vitamin C. This condition will cause a person to be easily fatigue, bleeding and poor wound healing. In healthy people, vitamin C deficiency is extremely rare. It usually affects people will chronic illness such as cancer or malabsoprtion syndromes. The condition is also common in alcoholism and those who are malnourish.
Vitamin C is largely found in fruit and vegetables especially citrus fruit, tomatoes, spinach, potatoes and broccoli. Please take note that vitamin C will easily be destroyed by heat and light. Do not over heated or over cooked your vegetables and do not put your vitamin C tablets under direct light. Foods that rich with vitamin C ideally should be put in a cool and dark place and should be prepared and cook as quickly as possible.
There is some evidence show that by taking high dose of vitamin C as a daily basis will reduce the risk from catching the common cold. Some people claimed that it will also reduce stress and help our body to combat with the infections by enhance the immune system.
However, it is good to remember that anything that is too much or too little is not good. Taking too much vitamin C also increase risk of diarrhea however that condition will quickly resolves after we stop taking high dose of vitamin C. There are some orthodox views that relate vitamin C with kidney stones and iron overload. This is base on the argument that large amounts of vitamin C may contribute to the formation of oxalate-type kidney stones due to vitamin C metabolic conversion to oxalic acid. A recent study by Dr Gary Curhan and colleagues at Harvard, Brigham and women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital and they have come to the conclusion that 40mg daily intake of vitamin C may have significant protection against kidney stones in both men and women. Therefore, the increased amounts of oxalate observed in urine may have been artifactually produced and have no relation to what happens in the body. In terms of increase iron overload, it is true that vitamin C increases iron absorption when iron is needed, however it also seems to increase excretion of iron when there is excessive amount of iron in the body.
As a conclusion, vitamin C is a very important element in our diet. So, make sure that you take enough fruits and vegetables in your meal.
Reference:
1) Understanding food and nutrition by Dr Joan Webster – Gandy. The British Medical Association.
2) http://www.wordiq.com/definition/vitamin_C
3) http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/faqdoc.html
4) http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/f-w99/kidneystones.html
Tags: anemia, fruits, iron overload, kidney stones, scurvy, vegetables, vitamin C
Technorati Tags: anemia, fruits, iron overload, kidney stones, scurvy, vegetables, vitamin C
Finally! Somebody who understands the dangers of additional vitamins. I know that too much vitamin C even can affect your liver.
Just eat healthy and you don’t even need additional vitamins.
I started to use a good multi vitamin every single day about 3 months ago and have noticed massive changes in my health. I’ve got more energy, motivation and am happier in general. Like many vitamins, Vitamin C is so powerful, and you probably won’t realize it until you start using it.
Great post.Really an innovative and interesting idea.I am really glad to see all these information for bloggers like me.Thanks a lot.Keep blogging.
It’s a very useful and informative blog.I like the way you describe all the things and the examples.Very clear and useful for a newbie like me.Thanks a lot.keep blogging.
That’s a very useful post.Really its good to know about the vitamin C.Thank you so much for the nice information sharing with us.This is exactly what i was looking for.Keep it up.Keep blogging.
______________
http://www.morpheushealthandfitness.com/
Excellent post. The way you present the topic is so nice. I impressed with your presentation style. Thank you for sharing information with us. Keep blogging.
Amazing blog.Thanks a lot for sharing with us.It really contains some valuable things which are very useful for us.Hope for more information.Keep blogging….
____________
http://www.chasesmith.co.uk/
Health is a great thing for any one and it is very necessary thing that keep your self healthy and strong. I think this is a great thing to be healthy and there are lots of ways through which you can make yourself healthy. Taking a balanced diet and workout are the basic lessons.
It appears that you have placed a lot of effort into your article and I require more of these on the net these days. I sincerely got a kick out of your post. I don’t really have much to say in response, I only wanted to comment to reply wonderful work
i thinks vitamin c- ascorbic should be the best for now
It appears that you have placed a lot of effort into your article and I require more of these on the net these days. It is worth the effort.