Vitamin C, vitamin

Description :   Vitamin C is an important water-soluble vitamin, which chemical name is ascorbic acid.

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Vitamin C is an important water-soluble vitamin which has versatile role on health. The chemical name of Vitamin C is ascorbic acid. It is essential for maintaining proper body function, for synthesize, growth and repairing of cells and tissues of the body. Research has shown that Vitamin C is an essential component of collagen, hence contributing in the growth and maintenance of cartilage, bone and teeth (Nezwek and Lasser, 2019). It also has significant role on the immune system. One of most essential function of Vitamin C is that it helps in iron absorption and helps to inhibit iron deficiency anaemia.

Epidemiological studies had shown that in sixteenth century about ten thousand mariners died due to a specific disease called scurvy. It was established that the disease had developed due to the deficiency of Vitamin C in their diet. At the time the disease was treated into remission with the administration of lime water or lemon juice in their daily diet. Since then, this remedy is widely used to prevent the disease scurvy. Positive awareness and health consciousness encourage people to consume Vitamin C in daily diet to combat several nutritional deficiencies.

Source

The below table gives a good overview of the various sources of Vitamin C

Biosynthesis of Vitamin C

• Studies and researches have shown that some animals can synthesize ascorbic acid within their body, but humans cannot synthesize it due to the absence of the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase (Amin, 2016). Thus, human should essentially consume it through diet or supplements for meeting daily requirements.
• Ascorbic acid is rapidly absorbed through the intestine, but it cannot be stored within the body. It is excreted through urine. Hence, it should be consumed in required amount so as not to develop a deficiency.

Why Vitamin C should be consumed?

As it evident from the above section, there are several good reasons to consume Vitamin C, some of which are listed below –

• To heal wound easily
• Vitamin C is one of the most essential nutrients that should be taken during pregnancy as it is an essential substance for promoting intrauterine growth of the fetus. Proper consumption of vitamin C can reduce the incidence of iron deficiency anaemia, still birth, low birth weight infant and preterm babies
• To increase the immunological strength of the body
• To protect vital organic substance of the body such as proteins, lipids, Vitamin A and enzymes
• To prevent scurvy and other oral problems

 Health benefits of Vitamin C

Here below we will discuss in future details the health benefits of Vitamin C

Role in Collagen synthesis

• It helps in collagen synthesis by acting as a coenzyme in this respective process.
• Hydroxylation of the amino acids lysine and proline is facilitated by Vitamin C and produce proto collagen which is then converted into collagen.
• The following flowchart has shown the process–

• Collagen helps to form connective tissues thereby helping to promote the growth of bones, tendons, blood vessels, cartilage and teeth

Role in iron absorption and hemoglobin metabolism

• Studies have shown that iron is absorbed within the body in the ferrous form and Vitamin C helps in iron absorption by converting the ferric form of iron to its ferrous form due to the reducing property of ascorbic acid
• It helps in the formation of ferritin, the stored form of iron and helps in the mobilization of iron from ferritin when required  
• It helps in the synthesis of hemoglobin by stimulating the conversion of methemoglobin to hemoglobin.
• Increase in iron and hemoglobin status can reduce the risk of anaemia (Lane et al., 2016)

Role in immune    Read more