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Vitamin C is an essential,
water-soluble vitamin that is a powerful antioxidant, as well as a
metabolic co-factor in many body processes. Vitamin C first gained fame
for the prevention of scurvy,*1 the oldest known nutritional deficiency
disease; ascorbic acid, another name for vitamin C, literally means
“without scurvy.”
Guarding
Against Free Radicals As an
antioxidant, vitamin C protects the water-based areas of the body, such
as the blood, lymph fluid, and the areas within and between the cells,
from free-radical damage.*2 Free radicals are highly reactive compounds
formed by radiation; found in air pollution, ozone, and cigarette smoke;
consumed in rancid fats; and produced during certain normal body
processes. Peroxides and superoxides are examples of free radicals
frequently present in the body. If left unchecked, free radicals damage
cell membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids (which comprise the genetic
code within each cell).3 The
antioxidant capability of vitamin C is impressive, and antioxidant
experts note that vitamin C is “...probably the most effective, least
toxic antioxidant identified in mammalian systems.”*4 Vitamin C also
supports the body’s antioxidant defenses by recycling the vitamin E
radical (produced when vitamin E neutralizes free radicals) back to its
functional form.*5 Cell
Support Another
major role of vitamin C is the formation and manufacture of collagen.*6
Collagen, a protein that forms the basis of connective tissue, acts as a
cementing substance between cells and is found in bones, tendons,
muscles, skin, gums, joints, and other tissues. Immune
Support Vitamin C
helps support the immune system.*7 Vitamin C also helps increase the
body’s resistance to damaging invasions of bacteria and viruses.*8, 9
Larger doses (i.e., 1 to 8 grams/day) taken early during an
“invasion” of bacteria or viruses supports immune function even more
during these times of greater stress.10
A combination of antioxidant vitamin C and bioflavonoids also
helps reduce the damaging affects of trama.*11
Nature’s
Life Bioflavonoid Complex concentrate contains 50% active flavonoids—the
highest concentration sold. Dietary supplement labels from other
companies can be misleading as to the quantity of active flavonoids,
since some appear to contain 100% active flavonoids, when in reality
they may contain as little as 5%. Nature’s Life products contain
unadulterated Testlabs® 50% active true bioflavonoids. What’s the Best Amount?
Although
it only takes about 10 mg of vitamin C each day to keep scurvy at bay,*
many doctors believe that much more than this amount is necessary to
ensure good health.31 The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for
vitamin C is: Infants
Children
Adults
Most
animals do not require a dietary source of vitamin C, since they can
manufacture this vitamin in their bodies. Humans are an exception—(we
are one of only a handful of mammals that cannot produce our own vitamin
C) and consequently we are dependent on a daily dietary source of this
vitamin. Using data from animal studies, an average-size adult would
need to consume 1.75 to 3.5 grams of vitamin C daily to equal the amount
produced by many other animals.33 In order
to clarify the requirement for vitamin C, one research study examined
vitamin C absorption and excretion in a group of healthy, adult men.34
Daily intake of 200 mg was required to reach 100% bioavailability.
Vitamin C at the highest intake level tested (2,500 mg) caused no
adverse effects. On the other hand, even a marginal deficiency of
vitamin C resulted in feelings of fatigue and irritability in the
subjects. The
Alliance for Aging Research, a national health organization comprised of
leading scientific researchers, also recommends a vitamin C intake
significantly higher than the RDA. This organization suggests vitamin C
intake to range from 250 to 1,000 mg.35 Because vitamin C is
water-soluble, it is not stored in the body for long-term use.
Consequently, taking vitamin C several times throughout the day (as
opposed to only once) should enhance the body’s access to this
vitamin. Sustained release forms of vitamin C supplements may also
enhance the body’s access to vitamin C.36 Vitamin C is found in a wide
variety of fruits and vegetables. However, even popular food sources of
vitamin C (such as an orange or a serving of strawberries) only provide
about 60 mg (the RDA) of this vitamin. Different Forms of Vitamin
C
Vitamin C is a well absorbed nutrient—80%-90% of the vitamin C from foods is absorbed.37 Dietary supplements of vitamin C are also well absorbed and tolerated by the body.37 Buffered
forms of vitamin C, such as the calcium ascorbate provided in several
Nature’s Life formulas, reduce the acidity of vitamin C, which lessens
the potential for stomach upset. One form
of vitamin C not used by Nature’s Life are “esterfied” mineral
ascorbates, because these forms have not been shown to have an advantage
in peer-reviewed human studies that would justify their increased cost.
A recent double-blind study compared the bioavailability of regular
vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin C with bioflavonoids, and Ester-C®.†38
The ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids were found to be
equal to or superior to the Ester-C®† form of vitamin C.38 A common
myth is that hypoallergenic vitamin C supplements are “special.” In
actuality, all vitamin C is hypoallergenic, because allergies to vitamin
C do not exist. Vitamin C is manufactured from any starchy food such as
corn, potatoes, rice or sugar beets. No manufacturer tracks the source
of vitamin C from the food to finished ascorbic acid—because there is
no difference in the final product. Regardless of the original food
source, the ascorbic acid vitamin C used in most dietary supplements is
purified, meaning that no traces of the food source will remain in the
final product. (Note: allergies do exist to many foods rich in vitamin C
and bioflavonoids such as oranges or grapefruit.) Confirmation of Safety
Vitamin C
intake of ten to one hundred times the RDA of 60 mg are very common in
the United States and is not generally associated with adverse
effects.39 Several reviews of vitamin safety report that even prolonged,
high intakes of vitamin C are generally without adverse effects.40
Although rare, the most likely adverse effect reported for high vitamin
C intake (several grams daily) is gastrointestinal upset, such as
nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.41 “Conditioned
scurvy,” in which the cessation of high vitamin C intake prompts
scurvy symptoms has been theorized to exist. However, a detailed review
of the published evidence suggests that there is not a factual basis for
this hypothetical phenomenon.41 Nature’s Life Vitamin C
Vitamin C
is essential to sustain life and maintain a healthy body. This
antioxidant nutrient also neutralizes free radicals to delay or prevent
damage to cells. Nature’s Life provides high quality vitamin C
products in several forms — something for everyone! References
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