Vitamin C/ Ascorbic Acid

The information on this page compiled by
Beth Burch N.D.
Index
(click on the keywords)

Function

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Forms

• Ascorbic acid- most widely used and least expensive
• Buffered vitamin C (calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, potassium ascorbate)- good for those people whose stomachs are upset by ascorbic acid

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Food Sources

• Best sources are peppers, greens, broccolli and brussels sprouts. Good sources include citrus fruits, cabbage and strawberries. Vitamin C is quickly destroyed by heat and exposure to air.

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Dosage

• Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
• Infants- 30-35 mg
• Children (ages 1-10)- 40-50 mg
• Adults- 60 mg
• Pregnancy- 70 mg
• Lactation- 95 mg

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Optimal Supplementation

• 500 mg daily

Treatment of Health Conditions

• 1000-9000 mg daily

Conditions used for

• Arthritis ^{(1, 2, 23)}
• Possibly helpful with exercise induced asthma ⁽³⁾
• Cancer prevention ⁽⁴⁾
• Carpel tunnel syndrome ⁽⁵⁾
• Cataract prevention ^{(6, 7)}
• Cervical dysplasia prevention ^{(8, 9)}
• Coronary artery disease prevention ⁽¹⁰⁾
• Herpes- topical application ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Possibly helpful with high blood pressure ⁽¹⁵⁾
• Improves immune function ⁽¹⁶⁾
• Prevention of colds ^{(17, 20)}
• Prevention of poor circulation in smokers ⁽¹⁹⁾
• Male infertility ⁽²⁵⁾

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Side effects

• Diarrhea and gas especially with high doses

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Contraindications

• Recurrent kidney stones, severe kidney disease, gout, iron overload, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

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Interactions with other nutrients

• Works with beta-carotene, vitamin E and selenium as antioxidants
• Regenerates vitamin E
• Increases the absorption of iron
• Required for the conversion of folic acid to its active form
• High levels of vitamin C can deplete copper stores

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Interactions with medications and herbs

• Increases kidney reabsorption of acidic medications increasing their effects ⁽¹²⁾
• Decreases kidney reabsorption of alkaline medications decreasing their effects
• Vitamin C increases the diuretic effect of furosemide ⁽¹³⁾
• Use with sulfonamides may cause crystallization
• Use with warfarin may decrease anticoagulant effects
• Use with ethinyl estradiol may increase estradiol levels
• Salicylates inhibit cellular uptake of vitamin C and may cause deficiency
• Antibiotics may decrease blood levels of vitamin C ⁽²⁴⁾

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References

1. McAlindon TE et al, Do antioxidant micronutrients protect against the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis?, Arthritis Rheum 1996;39(4):648-56
2. Eldin AA et al, Effect of vitamin C administration in modulating some biochemical changes in arthritic rats, Pharmacol Res 1992;26(4):357-66
3. Cohen HA et al, Blocking effect of vitamin C in exercise-induced asthma, Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1997;151(4):367-70
4. Head KA, Ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of cancer, Altern Med Rev 1998;3(3):174-86
5. Keniston RC et al, Vitamin B6, vitamin C, and carpal tunnel syndrome. A cross-sectional study of 441 adults, J Occup Environ Med 1997;39(10):949-59
6. van der Pols JC, A possible role for vitamin C in age-related cataract, Proc Nutr Soc 1999;58(2):295-301
7. Jacques PF et al, Long-term vitamin C supplement use and prevalence of early age-related lens opacities, Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66(4):911-6
8. Ho GY et al, Viral characteristics of human papillomavirus infection and antioxidant levels as risk factors for cervical dysplasia, Int J Cancer 1998;78(5):594-9
9. Kwasniewska A et al, Frequency of HPV infection and the level of ascorbic acid in serum of women with cervix dysplasia, Med Dosw Mikrobiol 1996;48(3-4):183-8
10. Nyyssonen K et al, Vitamin C deficiency and risk of myocardial infarction: prospective population study of men from eastern Finland, BMJ 1997 Mar 1;314(7081):634-8
11. Johnston CS et al, Vitamin C status of an outpatient population, J Am Coll Nutr 1998;17(4):366-70
12. Schumann K, Interactions between drugs and vitamins at advanced age, Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1999;69(3):173-8
13. Lee MG et al, Mechanism of ascorbic acid enhancement of the bioavailability and diuretic effect of furosemide, Drug Metab Dispos 1998 May;26(5):401-7
14. Hovi T et al, Topical treatment of recurrent mucocutaneous herpes with ascorbic acid-containing solution, Antiviral Res 1995;27(3):263-70
15. Bates CJ et al, Does vitamin C reduce blood pressure? Results of a large study of people aged 65 or older, J Hypertens 1998;16(7):925-32
16. de la Fuente M et al, Immune function in aged women is improved by ingestion of vitamins C and E, Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1998;76(4):373-80
17. Hemila H et al, Vitamin C and common cold incidence: a review of studies with subjects under heavy physical stress, Int J Sports Med 1996;17(5):379-83
18. Hurlimann R et al, Scurvy--a mistakenly forgotten disease, Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1994;124(31-32):1373-80
19. Zhang J et al, A Single High Dose of Vitamin C Counteracts the Acute Negative Effect on Microcirculation Induced by Smoking a Cigarette, Microvasc Res 1999 Nov;58(3):305-311
20. Hemila H et al, Vitamin C and acute respiratory infections, Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 1999;3(9):756-61
21. Ausman LM et al, Criteria and recommendations for vitamin C intake, Nutr Rev 1999;57(7):222-4
22. Carr AC et al, Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans, Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69(6):1086-107
23. Cocchi P et al, Nonconventional therapy in a case of systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Pediatr Med Chir 1996;18(3):319-20
24. Alabi ZO et al, The effect of antibacterial agents on plasma vitamin C levels, Afr J Med Med Sci 1994;23(2):143-6
25. Dawson EB et al, Effect of ascorbic acid on male fertility, Ann NY Acad Sci 1987;498:312-23
 

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* The information presented in this web site is intended to inform and educate. It is not intended replace a qualified medical practitioner to diagnose or treat medical conditions.