Vitamin C as an ascorbate is an essential nutrient required for metabolic reactions. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant, an ascorbate peroxidase substrate, an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of many biochemicals and an electron donor for enzymes. The pharmacophore of vitamin C is the ascorbate ion. When L-ascorbate is a strong reducing agent carries out its reducing function, it is converted to its oxidized form, L-dehydroascorbate that then be reduced back to the active L-ascorbate form in the body by enzymes and glutathione. L-ascorbate is a weak sugar acid structurally related to glucose, which naturally occurs either attached to a hydrogen ion (ascorbic acid), or to a mineral ion (a mineral ascorbate). The biological halflife for vitamin C is about 30 minutes in blood plasma. •
Vitamin C is essential in the human body for collagen formation and helps maintain the integrity of substances of connective tissue, osteoid tissue, blood vessels, lymphatic tissue and dentin. Vitamin C is an important welltrient for the formation of collagen protein (the connective substance in all cells, the glue for specialized tissues that hold us together, such as skin, cartilage, tendon and bone). Vitamin C helps speed up the healing of wounds and healthy cell developement, antihistamine action, maintains strength in blood vessels, fights bacterial and viral infections, promotes formation of hemoglobin, diuretic action on body cells, aids in the metabolism of the amino acids, phenylalanine tyrosine and tryptophan, helps the adrenals in the secretion of hormones.
Vitamin C as an antioxidant, helps defend cells from the effects of smoke, pollution and other highly reactive substances called free radicals. In production of red blood cells, preventing hemorrhaging and in fighting bacterial infections. It's need is increased by physical stress. Promotes resistance to infections. Serves as an antioxidant and may help protect against certain cancers, cataracts and heart disease.
Studies report that individuals with Type 2 diabetes have low plasma ascorbic acid levels, not due to inadequate dietary intake but a consequence of the disease itself. Glucose and ascorbic acid are similar in chemical structures, and utilize a common cellular transport pathway. Since individuals with diabetes usually have elevated blood glucose levels, the competition between glucose and ascorbic acid for transport into cells may cause a deficiency of ascorbic acid within various tissues and organs.
May help protect the body against harmful effects of excess; alcohol, cadmium, lead, nitrates, vanadium, PCBs and other pesticides, and chlorine.
In Studies: It has been hypothesized that elevated blood glucose levels may cause inadequate levels of ascorbic acid in leukocytes, upset inflammatory response mechanisms, and negatively impact the immune system and healing capabilities in patients with diabetes. Vitamin C as an ascorbate is an essential nutrient required for a range of essential metabolic reactions. Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant, a substrate for ascorbate peroxidase, an enzyme cofactor for the biosynthesis of many important biochemicals, an electron donor for enzymes.
History: In 1912, the Polish-American biochemist Casimir Funk, while researching deficiency diseases, developed the concept of vitamins to refer to the nutrients which are essential to health. Then, from 1928 to 1933, the Hungarian research team of Joseph L Svirbely and Albert Szent-Györgyi and, independently, the American Charles Glen King, first isolated vitamin C and showed it to be ascorbic acid.
Technicals: Antioxidant action, protects many other valuable welltrients such as thiamine, riboflavin, vitamins A and E, and pantothenic acid against damage from oxidation. Aids in absorption of iron from intestinal tract. Converts folic acid to folinic acid.
Sources: Red sweet pepper, Green pepper, Parsley, Cauliflower, Broccoli, regular Cabbage, Romaine lettuce, Brussels sprouts, Spinach, Tomatoes, Celery, Watermelon, Green Beans, green vegetables, onions, tomatoes, radishes, rose hips and fresh fruits (especially citrus), berries.
Synergist: All vitamins and minerals, calcium, magnesium.
Signs or Symptoms of a Deficiency: Scurvy, in adults, fatigue, aching bones, joints, and muscles, perifollicular hemorrhages, bleeding gums, failed wound healing. In infants and elderly, bone changes, bleeding gums, anemia.
Skin bruising; bleeding gums, shortness of breath; impaired digestion, joint pains.
Increased healing time of surface wounds.
Breaks in capillary walls resulting in clots.
Excessive hair loss.
Scurvy.
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