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NOW Foods Calcium Ascorbate Powder (8 oz / 227 g) – Pure Buffered Vitamin C
NOW Foods Calcium Ascorbate Powder provides high-potency, antioxidant-rich vitamin C in a gentle, non-acidic buffered form designed specifically for individuals with sensitive digestive systems. Traditional ascorbic acid carries an acidic pH that frequently causes heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach cramps when taken in therapeutic doses. By chemically bonding ascorbic acid with elemental calcium, this unflavored powder creates a neutral vitamin C salt that dissolves smoothly in liquids, delivering superior cellular antioxidant protection and collagen synthesis support without upsetting your gut lining.
Each 1/4 level teaspoon serving delivers 890 mg of pure Vitamin C alongside 90 mg of highly bioavailable elemental calcium, offering approximately 203 servings per recyclable bottle. Because it contains zero fillers, binders, sweeteners, or flow agents, you receive 100% pure active nutrients with flexible, customizable dosing.
- ✓Stomach-Friendly Buffered Formula: Non-acidic profile prevents gastric burning, nausea, and acid irritation.
- ✓Dual-Action Wellness Support: Strengthens white blood cell defense while delivering bioavailable calcium for bone and connective tissue maintenance.
- ✓100% Pure, Unadulterated Powder: Free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, stearates, and added sugars.
- ✓Exceptional Value & Customization: Over 200 full servings per bottle allows you to tailor intake precisely to your wellness routine.
How It Works: The Science of Buffered Vitamin C
To understand why calcium ascorbate is superior for sensitive individuals, it helps to examine simple stomach chemistry. Regular vitamin C is ascorbic acid, which exhibits an acidic pH of roughly 2.5 to 3.0 when dissolved in water. In people prone to acid reflux, gastritis, or peptic sensitivities, dumping concentrated acid into the stomach stimulates excess gastric secretions and increases pepsin activity, eroding mucosal protection and provoking epigastric pain.
In contrast, calcium ascorbate (C12H14CaO12) is synthesized by neutralizing ascorbic acid with calcium carbonate. This reaction produces a buffered mineral salt with a balanced, near-neutral pH between 6.8 and 7.4 in solution. Peer-reviewed research demonstrates that calcium ascorbate effectively raises gastric fluid pH without increasing total acid output, preventing the mucosal irritation and heartburn frequently induced by free ascorbic acid (Lee JK, et al., Korean J Physiol Pharmacol, 2018;22(1):35-42). Clinical trials evaluating gastrointestinal comfort have likewise verified that calcium ascorbate produces significantly fewer epigastric adverse events, nausea, and abdominal cramping compared to standard ascorbic acid supplements (Moyad MA, et al., Adv Ther, 2008;25(10):995-1009; Systematic Literature Review, Nutrients / PMC11767823, 2025).
Once ingested, the compound dissociates in the small intestine into active L-ascorbate ions and elemental calcium:
- Active Transport & Immune Uptake: L-ascorbate enters systemic circulation via sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCT1 in the gut lining and SVCT2 across immune leukocytes). Circulating white blood cells concentrate ascorbate up to 80-fold higher than baseline plasma concentrations, fueling neutrophil mobility, phagocytosis, and pathogen neutralization (Levine M, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1996;93(8):3704-3709).
- Free Radical Scavenging: Vitamin C acts as the human body's primary water-soluble electron donor, immediately neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regenerating oxidized lipid-soluble vitamin E back to its active antioxidant state.
- Enzymatic Collagen Cross-Linking: Ascorbate acts as an indispensable cofactor for prolyl 4-hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase. These specific enzymes hydroxylate proline and lysine residues, enabling the cross-linking required to assemble structurally stable collagen triple-helices in tendons, ligaments, cartilage, skin, and blood vessels.
Supplement Facts & Complete Ingredient Breakdown
NOW Foods maintains full label transparency. This formula contains pure, pharmaceutical-grade Calcium Ascorbate with absolutely no excipients, flowing agents, or hidden processing aids.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1/4 Level Teaspoon (approx. 1.12 g)
Servings Per Container: about 203
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C (from 1,120 mg Calcium Ascorbate) | 890 mg | 989% |
| Calcium (elemental) (from 1,120 mg Calcium Ascorbate) | 90 mg | 7% |
Other Ingredients: None.
Allergen Free: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in an Intertek GMP-certified facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Product Highlights: Non-GMO Project Verified ✓ Vegan & Vegetarian ✓ Kosher (Triangle K) ✓ Halal ✓ Keto-Friendly ✓ Low Sodium ✓ Packaged in 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Resin.
NOW Foods Analytical Lab Purity & Contaminant Verification
Many raw vitamin materials sold across e-commerce marketplaces originate from low-cost industrial suppliers without verifiable batch testing. NOW Foods operates one of the most advanced private analytical facilities in the dietary supplement industry, housing an ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited laboratory that performs over 19,000 to 31,000 analytical tests and assays every single month.
Every production batch of NOW Calcium Ascorbate Powder undergoes exhaustive analytical instrumentation testing to enforce rigorous contaminant barriers:
- Heavy Metal Screening via ICP-MS: Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, NOW chemists analyze every single lot for heavy metal contaminants down to parts-per-billion (ppb) and nanogram thresholds. Lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are held to strict internal action limits that comfortably satisfy California Proposition 65 standards and surpass United States Pharmacopeia (USP) criteria.
- Elemental Mineral Assay via ICP-OES: Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry verifies exact elemental mineral stoichiometry, ensuring the 90 mg of elemental calcium per serving is precise, uniform, and unadulterated.
- Active Potency Verification via HPLC: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography separates and quantifies pure L-ascorbate molecules, verifying that the product contains 100% active vitamin C without oxidized degradation byproducts like diketogulonic acid.
- Microbiological Pathogen Screening: Automated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and advanced culturing methods verify the complete absence of human pathogens, including Salmonella species, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside stringent limits on total aerobic plate count, yeast, and mold.
- Enzyme-Linked Allergen Testing (ELISA): Validates that no cross-contact occurs with gluten, soy, dairy, or nut antigens in the manufacturing environment.
Suggested Usage, Dosing Instructions & Safety Precautions
How to Use
As a dietary supplement, mix 1/4 level teaspoon (approximately 1.12 g) into 4 to 8 ounces of water, non-acidic juice (such as apple or grape juice), or your daily wellness shake 1 to 3 times daily, preferably with food.
Practical Mixing Tip: Because this powder is 100% pure without anti-caking additives or chemical emulsifiers, stir briskly for 30 seconds and allow it to stand for one minute to dissolve completely. Avoid mixing into boiling liquids, as sustained extreme temperatures degrade ascorbic acid potency.
Clinical Precautions & Important Contraindications
- Kidney Stones & Hyperoxaluria: In the human body, a fraction of excess ascorbic acid is metabolized into oxalic acid. Clinical studies show that high-dose vitamin C supplementation (exceeding 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg daily) can increase urinary oxalate excretion, elevating stone risk in individuals with an established personal history of calcium oxalate kidney stones or chronic kidney disease (Thomas LDK, et al., JAMA Intern Med, 2013;173(5):386-388; Curhan GC, et al., J Am Soc Nephrol, 1999;10(4):840-845). If you have a history of nephrolithiasis, consult your physician before starting high-potency vitamin C.
- Iron Storage Disorders: Vitamin C strongly facilitates the gastrointestinal absorption of non-heme dietary iron. Individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis, thalassemia, or other iron overload conditions should use supplemental vitamin C under physician supervision.
- Calcium Accounting: Three daily servings supply approximately 270 mg of elemental calcium. Factor this into your daily mineral total if you also consume calcium-fortified foods or dedicated bone support minerals to remain well below the established 2,000 mg to 2,500 mg daily tolerable upper intake level (UL) for calcium.
- Storage Guidance: Keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry, dark cupboard after opening. Do not refrigerate, as condensation will introduce moisture into the powder. This product is packaged and sold by weight, not volume.
Why Order NOW Foods Calcium Ascorbate from VitaNet®, LLC?
In an era of anonymous third-party resellers and unverified marketplace storefronts, purchasing authentic supplements requires verifiable retailer trust. VitaNet®, LLC has served the natural health community directly as a family-owned, independent discount retailer[cite: 1].
- Over 31 Years of Continuous Industry Experience: Founded in 1995, VitaNet brings over 31 years of hands-on expertise in human nutrition and dietary supplement retail[cite: 1].
- Independent Family-Owned Integrity: Located in Hartville, Ohio, our business operates with personal accountability and direct customer relationships[cite: 1].
- Unconditional 100% Money-Back Guarantee: We offer a 100% money-back guarantee on all products, and we even pay the return shipping costs if you are unsatisfied, even on opened bottles[cite: 1].
- A+ Better Business Bureau Accreditation: VitaNet maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), reflecting decades of transparent, customer-first business practices[cite: 1].
- Freshness & Authenticity Guaranteed: We source inventory directly through legitimate brand distributor channels, ensuring every bottle of NOW Calcium Ascorbate Powder is properly stored, climate-managed, and shipped fresh[cite: 1].
- Direct Telephone Support: Have questions about your order or supplement schedule? Call our knowledgeable team directly at (330) 877-8786 for real human assistance[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between calcium ascorbate and ascorbic acid?
Ascorbic acid is the raw, unbuffered acid form of vitamin C with an acidic pH (~2.5). Calcium ascorbate is a buffered mineral salt formed by reacting ascorbic acid with calcium carbonate. This neutralizes the acidity (bringing the pH close to 7.0), making it gentle on the stomach lining while delivering both bioavailable vitamin C and elemental calcium.