What Does Vitamin C Do for the Body?
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient that is required in the human diet. Humans are unable to synthesis vitamin C; therefore, it must be attained from supplements or a balanced diet. Vitamin C is vital for the formation and maintenance of connective tissue, amino acid metabolism and protection from chemicals.
Function
Vitamin C is required for the production of the protein collagen, which is found in the tendons, skin, bones, cartilage, ligaments and blood vessels. Collagen and vitamin C are necessary to support the body tissues, heal wounds and help maintain blood vessel structure. Vitamin C also functions as a cofactor assisting biochemical reactions, as an antioxidant preventing the degradation of substances in the body, and as a detoxifier reducing the toxicity of medications and chemicals.
Types
The chemical structure of vitamin C is the same in synthetic and natural sources. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best source of natural vitamin C- particularly citrus fruits and vegetables such as broccoli and parsley. Vitamin C is available from animal sources, but cooking destroys the nutrient. Vitamin C supplements are one of the most common dietary supplements and are readily available in most countries.
Features
The United States government has established a Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, of 90 milligrams per day for an average adult male and 75 milligrams per day for an adult female. There is some scientific disagreement over the optimal dose of vitamin C per day but it is generally agreed that the U.S. RDA for vitamin C is more than sufficient to prevent a vitamin C deficiency.
History
The concept of the vitamin, a nutrient essential for health, was not established until 1912. Vitamin C was first isolated by Hungarian and American researchers in 1932. A few years after this discovery, vitamin C was the first vitamin to be synthesized in a lab. By 1934, vitamin C was the first mass-produced vitamin supplement.
Considerations
An absence of vitamin C in the diet results in a deficiency disease called scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy include diarrhea, fever and irritability, spots on the skin, bleeding gums, paleness, weakness and sunken eyes. If left untreated, scurvy results in death. Death from scurvy is rare in the modern era, and vitamin C deficiencies are more common in regions where malnutrition is an issue.
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