Verified Product Ingredients & Supplement Facts

Many conventional vitamin C tablets contain up to 40% non-active ingredients, such as magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, modified cellulose, and synthetic glazing agents. NOW Foods Ascorbic Acid Powder SKU N0791 is formulated without inactive carriers.

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: 1/2 Level Teaspoon (approx. 2.25 g)

Servings Per Container: about 202

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Complete Ingredient Transparency

Active Ingredients: Ascorbic Acid (100% Pure Powder, USP Grade).

Other Ingredients: None.

Allergen Statement: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

How Ascorbic Acid Works: Cellular Science in Plain English

Ascorbic acid is the exact chemical name for pure Vitamin C. Unlike most animals, humans lack the enzyme (L-gulonolactone oxidase) required to synthesize Vitamin C internally, making daily dietary or supplemental replenishment essential for physiological function (Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center, 2023).

1. Neutralizing Free Radicals (The "Biological Rust" Defense)

Every second, daily metabolic processes, stress, ultraviolet light, and pollution generate unstable molecules called free radicals. These molecules lack an electron and steal them from your cells, damaging cell membranes, DNA, and proteins—a process similar to how metal rusts when exposed to oxygen.

Ascorbic acid acts as a primary water-soluble antioxidant electron donor (Padayatty & Levine, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2016). It safely supplies an electron directly to free radicals, neutralizing them before they cause cellular injury. Once spent, ascorbic acid converts into dehydroascorbic acid, which your body can regenerate back into active Vitamin C using cellular glutathione.

2. Essential Collagen Synthesis for Skin, Tendons, and Arteries

Collagen is the primary structural protein holding your body together, forming your skin, cartilage, ligaments, bone matrix, and arterial walls. However, your cells cannot assemble sturdy, triple-helix collagen fibers from amino acids without Vitamin C.

Ascorbic acid acts as an essential cofactor for two enzymes: prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase. These enzymes add hydroxyl groups to the amino acids proline and lysine, creating stable cross-links that give mature collagen its structural tensile strength (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Vitamin C Fact Sheet, 2021). Without sufficient ascorbic acid, tissue repair slows and blood vessel integrity weakens.

3. Enhancing Non-Heme Plant Iron Absorption

Plant-based iron (non-heme iron found in spinach, beans, and grains) is typically present in the ferric state ($Fe^{3+}$), which is poorly absorbed by the intestinal lining. Ascorbic acid chemically reduces ferric iron to the ferrous state ($Fe^{2+}$) while creating soluble chelates that prevent precipitation in the alkaline environment of the duodenum.

Clinical research demonstrates that consuming as little as 100 mg of ascorbic acid alongside a meal can multiply non-heme iron absorption significantly, providing vital nutritional support for plant-based athletes and individuals prone to low ferritin levels (Hallberg et al., The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1989).

NOW Foods Quality: Stringent In-House Lab Testing & Contaminant Controls

Many dietary supplement brands outsource packaging and testing to third-party contract facilities with minimal oversight. In contrast, NOW Foods operates one of the most advanced, privately owned, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited analytical testing laboratories in the natural products sector, conducting approximately 19,000 tests every month to ensure verified chemical identity, potency, and safety.

Heavy Metal Screening (ICP-MS)

Every batch of raw ascorbic acid powder is screened using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This instrument detects trace contaminants down to parts-per-billion (ppb) thresholds, verifying that levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury remain well below USP limits and comply with strict California Proposition 65 tolerances.

USP Potency Titration & HPLC

To verify that the powder meets full label claims without degradation, NOW performs High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and standardized United States Pharmacopeia (USP) acid-base titrations. This ensures 100% active L-ascorbic acid potency from the first scoop to the bottom of the container.

Microbiological Assurance

Powders are tested for biological safety, including comprehensive screening for E. coli, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic plate count, and pathogenic yeasts or molds to eliminate contamination hazards prior to packaging.

Zero Adulteration & Cross-Contamination

NOW adheres strictly to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) audited by both the NPA (Natural Products Association) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The manufacturing lines utilize dedicated sanitary equipment cleaning cycles to prevent allergen cross-contact.

Practical Usage Guide: Mixing, Bioavailability & Enamel Protection

Taking pure, unbuffered ascorbic acid powder requires simple common-sense techniques to maximize comfort, absorption, and dental safety.

Dosage Measurement & Divided Dosing

A level 1/2 teaspoon equals approximately 2,250 mg of pure Vitamin C. For standard daily maintenance, many health practitioners suggest dividing doses throughout the day (such as 1/4 teaspoon twice daily).

Why split doses? The body absorbs Vitamin C in the small intestine using sodium-dependent Vitamin C transporters (SVCT1). Pharmacokinetic research indicates that while doses up to 200 mg are absorbed at nearly 100%, single doses exceeding 1,000 mg saturate these intestinal transport channels, lowering relative fractional absorption and passing excess Vitamin C to the colon (Levine et al., PNAS, 1996). Splitting your intake maintains higher, consistent plasma levels throughout the day.

Protecting Your Dental Enamel

Unbuffered ascorbic acid has a natural pH of roughly 2.5 to 3.0 in liquid, which is similar to lemon juice. Direct contact with teeth can temporarily soften dental enamel.

• Mix your serving into at least 6 to 8 ounces of water, chilled herbal tea, or juice.
• Drink the liquid using a straw to minimize direct contact with your teeth.
• Swish your mouth thoroughly with plain water immediately after finishing your drink.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth to allow saliva to naturally remineralize enamel surfaces.

Understanding Bowel Tolerance

If you consume more Vitamin C in a single sitting than your intestinal transporters can absorb, the unabsorbed crystals remain in the colon. Because ascorbic acid is osmotically active, it draws water into the large intestine, causing gas, mild cramping, or loose stools. This harmless response is called reaching "bowel tolerance." If loose stools occur, simply reduce your serving size to find your comfortable threshold.

Why Purchase NOW Brand From VitaNet®?

In an online marketplace crowded with unauthorized third-party resellers, expired lots, and improper warehouse storage, where you buy your supplements directly impacts product freshness and personal safety.

Serving Customers Online Since 1995

VitaNet, LLC is an independent, family-owned business operating out of Hartville, Ohio with over 30 years of direct natural supplement retail experience[cite: 1].

Unconditional Money-Back Guarantee

Shop with total peace of mind[cite: 1]. VitaNet offers a 100% money-back guarantee on all products, and even pays return shipping on opened items if you are not fully satisfied[cite: 1].

BBB A+ Accredited Integrity

Backed by an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, VitaNet maintains climate-monitored inventory with active stock rotation to ensure maximum freshness on every bottle[cite: 1].

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between ascorbic acid and buffered Vitamin C (sodium or calcium ascorbate)?

Ascorbic acid is the pure, naturally acidic form of Vitamin C (pH ~2.5 to 3.0 in water). "Buffered" Vitamin C binds ascorbic acid to mineral salts like calcium, sodium, or magnesium, neutralizing the acidity to a neutral pH (~6.5 to 7.0). Buffered formulas are ideal for people with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux, whereas pure ascorbic acid powder is preferred by those seeking maximum purity, the lowest cost per gram, and no added minerals.

Can I mix NOW Ascorbic Acid Powder in hot tea or coffee?

It is best to avoid mixing ascorbic acid into boiling liquids. High temperatures and prolonged heat exposure accelerate the oxidation of L-ascorbic acid, causing it to degrade into inactive compounds. For optimal biological potency, dissolve your powder in cool or room-temperature liquids such as water, juice, or smoothies.

Is this ascorbic acid derived from corn, and does it contain GMOs?

Like almost all pharmaceutical-grade ascorbic acid, the initial carbon substrate originates from non-GMO plant glucose (often corn). However, the multi-step fermentation and chemical refining process strips away all plant proteins, DNA, and corn allergens. The resulting product is 100% chemically pure crystalline L-ascorbic acid, verified Non-GMO, and free of detectable corn or grain proteins.

How should I store this 1 lb powder to keep it fresh and prevent clumping?

Store the container in a cool, dry place tightly sealed away from direct sunlight and humidity. Avoid storing it next to the stove or in the refrigerator, as repeated temperature changes introduce condensation that can cause the fine crystals to harden or turn slightly yellow over time.

Who should consult a doctor before taking higher doses of ascorbic acid?

Individuals with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones, kidney disease, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, or iron-overload conditions such as hemochromatosis should consult a healthcare provider before taking high-dose Vitamin C. Because Vitamin C significantly increases iron absorption and metabolizes partially into oxalate, medical supervision is recommended for these groups.