How Is Vitamin C Destroyed
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Functions
Vitamin C's functions include:
- Acting as an antioxidant in the body
- Playing a major role in collagen formation
- Assisting in the synthesis of a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine
- Helping break down cholesterol and synthesize bile
- Playing a role in the absorption, metabolism, and utilization of other nutrients, such as folate, calcium, and iron
- Promoting healing of wounds
Recommended Intake:
| Age Group (in years) | Recommended Dietary Allowance | |
|---|---|---|
| Females | Males | |
| 1-3 | 15 | 15 |
| 4-8 | 25 | 25 |
| 9-13 | 45 | 45 |
| 14-18 | 65 | 75 |
| 14-18 Pregnancy | 80 | n/a |
| 14-18 Lactation | 115 | n/a |
| 19-50 | 75 | 90 |
| 19-50 Pregnancy | 85 | n/a |
| 19-50 Lactation | 120 | n/a |
| 50+ | 75 | 90 |
Vitamin C Deficiency
Intakes of less than 10 mg per day of vitamin C can result in scurvy. Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include:
- Bleeding gums
- Easy bruising
- Impaired wound and fracture healing
- Joint pain and swelling
- Loose and decaying teeth
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Bone pain and fractures
Vitamin C Toxicity
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin C from dietary sources and supplements combined is:
- Ages 1-3: 400 mg/day
- Ages 4-8: 650 mg/day
- Ages 9-13: 1,200 mg/day
- Ages 14-18: 1,800 mg/day
- Ages 19+: 2,000 mg/day
Because excess vitamin C is excreted in the urine, toxicity is rare. It can happen though, with several large doses throughout the day. Symptoms of vitamin C toxicity include:
- Nausea
- Excessive urination
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Formation of kidney stones in susceptible people
Major Food Sources
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
- Kiwi
- Oranges
- Green or red peppers
- Cantaloupe
- Tomato juice
- Avacado
- Baked potato
- Green peas
- Spinach
Health Implications
Populations at Risk for Vitamin C Deficiency
The following populations may be at risk for vitamin C deficiency and may require a supplement:
- People who smoke cigarettes—Due to an increased metabolic turnover of vitamin C, smokers have lower blood vitamin C levels. It is recommended that smokers take 35 mg more per day than the applicable RDA.
- People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol—This may, in part, be due to a nutritionally inadequate diet.
- The elderly—Studies have shown that older adults have lower levels of serum vitamin C. This may be due to a diet lacking in essential nutrients.
- Infants—Feeding babies evaporated or boiled milk can cause vitamin C deficiency. This is because heat can destroy the vitamin C found in cow's milk.
- People with limited variety in their diet—People whose diets are affected by poverty; food faddists; and people with mental illness may not prepare meals that contain a variety of foods to obtain enough vitamin C.
- People with malabsorption and certain chronic diseases—Those with certain medical conditions like severe intestinal malabsorption, renal disease, or cancer may not be able to absorb enough vitamin C.
Antioxidant Capabilities
Free radicals are normal by-products of metabolism, but they can cause chain reactions that result in cell damage. This cell damage can, in turn, increase the risk of chronic diseases, including certain forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Antioxidants have the ability to stop this chain reaction. Vitamin C functions in the body as an antioxidant. Because of this antioxidant capability, vitamin C is being studied for a possible role in prevention of certain conditions like age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Currently there is not sufficient evidence to recommend vitamin C for any of these conditions.
Respiratory Infections
Many people believe that taking mega-doses of vitamin C will cure a cold. There is no scientific evidence to support this idea in the general population. However, there may be some preventative benefit in people exposed to extreme physical stress, cold environments, or those not getting enough vitamin C normally. Studies have found that taking vitamin C daily may help slightly reduce the symptoms and the duration of a cold. But taking vitamin C after the onset of the cold does not appear to effect the course of the illness. In addition, a review of studies on vitamin C found that it may be able to prevent and treat pneumonia, particularly in people who do not get enough vitamin C in their diet.
Tips For Increasing Your Vitamin C Intake:
To help increase your intake of vitamin C:
- Serve fruits and vegetables raw whenever possible.
- Leave the skin on potatoes and sweet potatoes.
- Add sliced strawberries, mango, or kiwi to your breakfast cereal.
- Use mashed avocado in place of mayonnaise as a sandwich spread.
- Throw snow peas in your stir-fry.
- Replace your morning coffee with a glass of orange or grapefruit juice.
- If you take a vitamin supplement, make sure it contains vitamin C.
Resources
Choose My Plate—Department of Agriculture
http://www.choosemyplate.gov
Eat Right—American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org
Canadian Resources
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
http://www.cdhf.ca
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca
References
Ascorbic acid. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated July 7, 2016. Accessed July 21, 2016.
Vitamin C. Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health website. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional. Updated February 11, 2016. Accessed July 21, 2016.
Vitamin C. Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute website. Available at: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C. Updated January 14, 2014. Accessed July 21, 2016.
Vitmin C deficiency. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated April 27, 2010. Accessed July 21, 2016.
10/30/2009 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Hemila H, Louhiala P. Vitamin C for preventing and treating pneumonia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(3):CD005532.
- Michael Woods, MD
- 201607
- 20160721
Source: https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=14069
