| Vitamin C or L-Ascorbic Acid is not manufactured by | | | | to reverse chemically-transformed cells back to a |
| the body. It must be obtained through diet or | | | | normal phenotype. Vitamin C, together with |
| supplementation. It is a water soluble vitamin found in | | | | beta-carotene, reverses cervical dysplasia, leukoplakia, |
| the juices of fruits and vegetables and readily leaches | | | | and gastric metaplasia. |
| into the cooking water of boiled foods. It is very | | | | CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: A study at the |
| sensitive to oxidation and is destroyed whenever | | | | University of California, Los Angeles, compared heart |
| foods are cut or torn which exposes the cells to air. | | | | disease mortality rates in individuals with the highest |
| Alkalies such as baking soda or antacids destroy | | | | and lowest vitamin C intakes and found that regular |
| ascorbic acid. | | | | supplementation with vitamin C reduced the mortality |
| Vitamin C is a very important antioxidant and is | | | | rate from cardiovascular disease by 45%. |
| required for at least 300 metabolic functions in the | | | | DIABETES: Ascorbic acid may help regulate insulin |
| human body. This includes tissue growth and repair, | | | | action in diabetics according to a study conducted at |
| adrenal gland function, and healthy gums. It also aids | | | | the National Institutes of Health. The study indicates |
| the production of anti-stress hormones and interferon | | | | that ascorbic acid participates in insulin regulation by |
| which is an important immune-system protein. It must | | | | inhibiting glucose-induced insulin release in pancreatic |
| also be present for the metabolism of folic acid, | | | | islets. |
| tyrosine and phenylalanine. Taking vitamin C can | | | | IMMUNE SYSTEM: A marginal ascorbic acid deficiency |
| reduce the symptoms of asthma. | | | | results in compromised immune system function |
| Ascorbic acid protects against the harmful effects of | | | | according to a study from USDA Agriculture |
| pollution, helps prevent cancer, protects against | | | | Research Service in San Francisco and UCLA School |
| infection, and enhances immune system function. It | | | | of Public Health in Los Angeles. This was despite the |
| increases the absorption of iron and can combine | | | | absence of clinical deficiency symptoms. Moreover, |
| with toxic substances, like certain heavy metals, and | | | | researchers at Arizona State University in Tempe |
| render them harmless and allow them to be | | | | report that high intakes of vitamin C stimulate the |
| eliminated from the body. Very large doses of | | | | immune system response by degrading and |
| vitamin C may even render the venom of the black | | | | detoxifying histamine and might indirectly enhance |
| widow spider harmless. | | | | neutrophil chemotaxis. |
| This vitamin may also reduce levels of LDL (the bad | | | | COMMON COLD: Finnish researches reviewed current |
| cholesterol) while it increases levels of HDL (the good | | | | research on ascorbic acid and the common cold. They |
| cholesterol) and lower high blood pressure to help | | | | found that most studies report the vitamin to have |
| prevent atherosclerosis. It is essential for the | | | | only a small effect on cold prevention. However, the |
| formation of collagen. Collagen is a protein that forms | | | | studies consistently show this vitamin helps reduce a |
| the basis for connective tissue, the most abundant | | | | cold's duration and severity. Vitamin C supplements |
| tissue in the body. Collagen binds muscle cells | | | | given in therapeutic doses (1 to 8 grams/day) at the |
| together, gives support and maintains shape in | | | | onset of a cold reduce the duration of cold episodes |
| intervertebral discs and eustachian tubes, and | | | | by as much as 48%. |
| provides movement in joints. Vitamin C protects | | | | VISION: Levels of vitamin C in the eye are 20 to 70 |
| against abnormal blood clotting and bruising. It may | | | | times greater than that found in plasma and other |
| reduce the risk of cataracts and promotes healing of | | | | tissues. This vitamin plays a key role in proper ocular |
| wounds and burns. | | | | function by protecting the eye against light-induced |
| Vitamins C works in concert with both vitamin E and | | | | loss of retinal pigment, epithelial cells, and |
| beta-carotene. Taking these vitamins together allow | | | | photoreceptor cells. It also eliminates O2 from the |
| them to repotentiate each other and may counter | | | | lens and protects against UV radiation. There is some |
| potential adverse effects of taking them separately. | | | | evidence that links higher intakes of this vitamin with |
| Vitamin E works to scavenge dangerous free radicals | | | | a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration. |
| in cell membranes, while vitamin C scavenges free | | | | Low intakes of this vitamin may increase the risk for |
| radicals in biologic fluids. These vitamins reinforce and | | | | developing cataracts. Low levels to none are found in |
| extend the antioxidant activity of the other. | | | | cataractous lenses, while human lenses with senile |
| Ascorbic acid has a role in amino acid metabolism and | | | | cataracts have increased levels of free radicals. It is |
| hormonal synthesis. It contributes to the formation of | | | | unknown whether these associations are the cause |
| tyrosine (the precursor for the neurotransmitters | | | | or result of cataracts. In vitro studies have shown |
| epinephrine and norepinephrine). During periods of | | | | that ascorbic acid may benefit glaucoma in the human |
| stress these hormones are mobilized, and the small | | | | eye. |
| stores of ascorbic acid in the adrenal glands are | | | | CAUTIONS: Do not take aspirin and large doses of |
| depleted. Therefore, vitamin C may help the body | | | | standard ascorbic acid together. Doing so may lead to |
| deal more effectively with stress. Tryptophan is | | | | stomach irritations, possibly contributing to ulcer |
| converted to 5-hydroxytryptophan in the presence | | | | formation. If you take aspirin regularly, use a |
| of vitamin C and is decarboxlated to form the | | | | buffered form of vitamin C, and take it separately |
| neurotransmitter serotonin. | | | | from the aspirin. |
| CANCER: Cancer risk is reduced by the antioxidant | | | | If pregnant, take no more than 5,000 mg of ascorbic |
| characteristics of vitamin C. Researchers at Trinity | | | | acid per day. A developing infant may become |
| College in Dublin, Ireland found that free-radical | | | | dependent on this supplement and develop scurvy |
| activity damages DNA, which might initiate | | | | when deprived of the accustomed megadoses after |
| carcinogenic changes in colonic mucosa. Vitamin C | | | | birth. |
| suppresses this damage and limits adenomatous | | | | Avoid using chewable forms of this supplement, as |
| polyp growth in patients with colorectal cancer. This | | | | these can damage tooth enamel. |
| vitamin acts as a cytotoxic agent in cancerous cells | | | | |