NOW® Ascorbic Acid Powder (8 oz / 227 g) – 100% Pure Vitamin C Crystals
Pharmaceutical-Grade L-Ascorbic Acid for Daily Immune Defense, Collagen Synthesis, and Cellular Protection
Quick Summary: NOW® Ascorbic Acid Powder delivers 100% pure, fine crystalline Vitamin C without any excipients, binders, artificial flavors, or fillers. Designed for rapid solubility in water or juice, it provides flexible, customizable daily dosing to strengthen your immune barriers, neutralize oxidative stress, and support natural collagen formation.
✓ 100% Pure USP Grade✓ Zero Additives or Fillers✓ Non-GMO & Vegan✓ ISO/IEC 17025 Lab Tested
Complete Ingredient Listing & Supplement Facts
What you see on the label is exactly what is inside the bottle. NOW® Ascorbic Acid Powder contains only one single ingredient—pure crystalline Vitamin C.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1/2 Level Teaspoon (approx. 2.25 g)
Servings Per Container: about 101
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 2.25 g (2,250 mg)2500%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Ingredients: 100% Pure Ascorbic Acid Powder (Pharmaceutical Grade USP).
Allergen & Purity Statement: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Free of sugar, salt, yeast, starch, and artificial preservatives.
Dietary supplements must meet uncompromising safety benchmarks. NOW Foods maintains some of the most advanced private analytical laboratories in North America, accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for chemical and microbiological testing. Every single batch of raw ascorbic acid undergoes comprehensive physical, chemical, and biological screening before release.
1. Heavy Metal Constraints (ICP-MS)
Tested via Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Batches must satisfy strict safety thresholds for Lead (< 0.5 mcg/g), Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury, meeting USP and California Proposition 65 safety parameters.
2. Identity & Potency (HPLC & FTIR)
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirm 100% authentic L-ascorbic acid isomer purity with zero unlisted fillers or chemical diluents.
3. Microbiological Screening
Comprehensive assays screen for pathogens including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside rigorous yeast, mold, and total aerobic microbial counts.
How Vitamin C Works in Your Body (Scientific Health Benefits)
Unlike most animals, humans lack the enzyme (L-gulonolactone oxidase) required to synthesize Vitamin C endogenously. As an essential water-soluble nutrient, it must be replenished daily through diet or high-potency supplementation.
1. Cellular Immune System Priming
Vitamin C concentrates directly within white blood cells, particularly neutrophils and lymphocytes, up to 100 times higher than plasma concentrations. It supports normal phagocytosis (the engulfing of pathogens) and promotes lymphocyte proliferation during physiological stress.
2. Collagen Synthesis & Tissue Repair
Ascorbic acid acts as an indispensable cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylase enzymes. These enzymes stabilize the triple-helix structure of collagen, supplying structural integrity to your skin, tendons, cartilage, blood vessels, and gums.
3. High-Capacity Antioxidant Defense
As a primary water-soluble electron donor, ascorbic acid directly neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals before they damage proteins, lipids, and DNA. It also regenerates oxidized Vitamin E back into its active protective form.
4. Enhanced Plant Iron Absorption
Ascorbic acid reduces dietary non-heme iron from the insoluble ferric state (Fe3+) to the soluble ferrous state (Fe2+), dramatically improving iron bioavailability across the intestinal mucosal brush border.
Pharmacokinetic research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (Levine et al.) indicates that oral Vitamin C absorption is tightly controlled by active sodium-dependent Vitamin C transporters (SVCT-1) in the small intestine.
Single Dose Size
Approximate Absorption Rate
Physiological Fate
100 mg – 200 mg
80% – 90%
Fully saturates steady-state plasma levels.
500 mg
~70%
High tissue utilization with minimal excretion.
1,000 mg+ (Single)
< 50%
Excess is excreted unchanged via renal clearance.
The Pro-Dosing Tip: Instead of ingesting a large single serving once daily, split your powder intake into 1/4 teaspoon (approx. 1,125 mg) twice daily with meals. This practice stabilizes circulating plasma concentrations while dramatically reducing digestive sensitivity.
Protecting Your Dental Enamel: Pure ascorbic acid has a naturally acidic pH of approximately 2.1 to 2.6. When dissolved in liquids, drink your solution using a straw or rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water immediately afterward. Do not brush your teeth for 30 minutes following consumption to allow tooth enamel to re-harden.
Pure Ascorbic Acid vs. Buffered Forms: Which Is Right for You?
Choosing the right Vitamin C depends directly on your digestive tolerance, dietary mineral restrictions, and application goals:
Product Type
pH Profile
Key Advantage
Ideal Customer
NOW® Ascorbic Acid Powder
Acidic (~2.2)
100% pure potency, zero sodium or calcium mineral load, economical.
Shoppers wanting raw purity, beverage mixes, or flexible daily titration.
Sodium Ascorbate Powder
Buffered (~7.1)
Gentle on sensitive stomach linings; non-acidic taste.
Individuals with acid reflux or gastritis (monitor sodium intake).
Calcium Ascorbate (Ester-C®)
Buffered (~6.8)
Non-acidic delivery that provides supplemental elemental calcium.
Individuals needing gentle digestion while tracking bone-support minerals.
Precautions, Constraints & Edge Cases
While Vitamin C has an established safety profile and an adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 2,000 mg daily set by the Food and Nutrition Board, specific medical constraints must be observed:
Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones: A fraction of unabsorbed ascorbic acid converts to oxalate during hepatic and renal clearance. Individuals with hyperoxaluria or personal history of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis should avoid high doses without direct physician clearance.
Hemochromatosis & Iron Overload: Because Vitamin C significantly enhances non-heme iron uptake, individuals with hereditary hemochromatosis, thalassemia, or chronic anemia under treatment should moderate their intake.
G6PD Deficiency: Patients with severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency should exercise caution with elevated dosing to prevent potential hemolytic complications.
Medication Interactions: Supplemental Vitamin C can alter the effectiveness of oral anticoagulants (e.g., Warfarin) and statin combinations, or interfere with blood glucose monitor readings. Always consult your prescribing physician.
How to Use & Store NOW® Ascorbic Acid Powder
Suggested Daily Use
Mix 1/4 to 1/2 level teaspoon daily into at least 4 to 8 ounces of cold water, freshly squeezed citrus juice, or a smoothie. Fine ascorbic acid powder dissolves rapidly without persistent clumping.
Optimal Timing
Take with or immediately after a meal. Food acts as a natural buffer in the stomach, easing digestion while boosting the absorption of dietary iron found in your food.
Storage Conditions
Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry, dark environment away from humidity. Avoid keeping the bottle directly next to stovetops or sinks, as moisture causes crystalline clumping and oxidative degradation.
Why Purchase Your Supplements from VitaNet®, LLC?
When ordering nutritional supplements online, source integrity and proper warehouse handling make all the difference[cite: 1]. VitaNet®, LLC provides an established, customer-first alternative to anonymous third-party online marketplaces[cite: 1]:
Family-Owned Heritage Since 1995: Serving natural health customers online for over 31 years with hands-on industry expertise[cite: 1].
BBB A+ Accredited Independent Retailer: Dedicated customer support based out of Hartville, Ohio[cite: 1]. Real humans answer your calls directly at (330) 877-8786[cite: 1].
Fresh, Direct Inventory: All items are kept in climate-controlled storage to maintain full active potency[cite: 1].
Unconditional 100% Money-Back Guarantee: VitaNet stands behind every single product, paying return shipping even on opened bottles[cite: 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does pure ascorbic acid powder taste like?
It has a sharp, distinctly tart, and sour flavor very similar to concentrated lemon juice. When stirred into cold water, juice, or fruit smoothies, it adds a pleasant citrus-like tang.
Why choose ascorbic acid powder over Vitamin C tablets or capsules?
Powdered ascorbic acid provides 100% active nutrient content with zero magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, artificial coatings, or gelatin capsules. It allows you to customize your exact serving size down to the milligram, dissolves instantly, and is far more economical per gram.
Can I use this powder for baking, food preservation, or sourdough?
Yes. Pure ascorbic acid is widely used by bakers as a natural dough conditioner to enhance gluten strength and volume. It is also routinely used in home canning and fruit preparation to prevent enzymatic browning in cut apples and peaches.
What should I do if the powder causes mild stomach discomfort?
If loose stools or gas occur, you have reached your individual bowel tolerance threshold. Simply decrease your serving size or split your intake into smaller 1/4-teaspoon servings taken alongside meals. Alternatively, explore buffered sodium ascorbate or calcium ascorbate.
Does this product contain corn allergens?
While ascorbic acid is synthesized using glucose derived from non-GMO plant starch, the purification and crystallization process eliminates all plant proteins and antigens. The final product is pharmaceutical grade and certified free of corn residue and common food allergens.
Can I mix ascorbic acid powder into hot tea or boiling water?
It is best to mix the powder into lukewarm, room-temperature, or chilled beverages. Ascorbic acid is heat-sensitive (thermolabile), and boiling liquids accelerate oxidative breakdown, diminishing its antioxidant potency.
Authoritative References & Clinical Sources
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. (Updated 2021).
Levine, M., et al. "Vitamin C pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers: evidence for a recommended dietary allowance." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1996; 93(8): 3704-3709.
Carr, A.C., Frei, B. "Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans." Am J Clin Nutr, 1999; 69(6): 1086-1107.
United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Ascorbic Acid Official Monograph. USP-NF Standards.
