Vitamin C – defense mobiliser

Vitamin C is a medicine, supplement and additive, and is equally good in all these functions! It protects and helps, so it can be said that it is the "king of prevention".

Ascorbic acid is a rare substance found in all three functions; as medicine, as additive and as supplement.

It's equally good in everything. If added to the salt-cured meat it will sucesssfully conserve a desirable red colour; if applied as an injection to a tired patient, it will bring him back to life; and if given as tablets or capsules before the appearance of flu, it can shorten the length of the illness. Unlike animals, man cannot synthesize ascorbic acid in the body and is directly dependent on oral intake.

 Number of papers published on ascorbic acid and its effects is - huge. Vitamin C protects and assists, and we can say, with no doubt, that vitamin C is the "king of prevention". Those who knows how to use it can have great benefits.

How it works

Standard sources of vitamin C are red pepper, rose hip (Rosa canina), broccoli, lemon, orange and many others.

When we say "the first line of defense" we actually think of the antioxidant activity and its specific role in mobilizing the defense forces of the body. The largest number of research papers (and books) refers to the problem of preventive protection of the body (fight against viruses and bacteria) and vitamin C certainly takes the first place in those researches. Here's just one example: it is known that the marathon racers are, because of the great efforts they take,  extremely susceptible to infections of upper respiratory tract. If they intake vitamin C before the race, their infection is reduced by 25%.

Next, and no less important function, is to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which is the prerequisite for the prevention of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, vitamin C is necessary for the production of body "glu" - collagen, which has a function to strengthen the muscles and blood vessels. As a natural antihistamine, vitamin C enables (faciliates) healing wounds and  alleviates allergic reactions. Although the effect in the prevention of cold is minor, if given high doses (1-8 g a day), it shortens the time of illness by 23%.

Vitamin C is the only proven anti-stress factor of natural origin. According to dr. S. Cambel from the University of Huntsville, Alabama, vitamin C has the ability to "prepare" body against stress caused by rapid changes in organism, such as, for example, travel, change of environment, surgery, divorce, loss of a loved one, etc. At the same time vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is necessary for the formation of connective tissue, and without it no physical structure can be firmly set. It is difficult to enumerate all the other beneficial effects of this substance. It is well known that with aging the amount of vitamin C in  the eye decreases and that paralelly with the decline there may appear gray cataract (cataract). By vitamin C suplementing, this situation could change significantly, and the combination of vitamins C and E may have better effects. Since vitamin C helps vitamin E activity, it is good that both are present in the metabolism.

It is noticed that vitamin C works better in natural combination with bioflavonoids and packets therefore often are prepared with a combination of these substances.

All in all, the list of states in which the vitamin C is used as an aid or protection is far the largest among the supplements! It should be noted, though, that its main role is disease (infection) prevention and stimulation organism defense of active athlets, patients, convalescents and the elderly, for the purpose of  lowering cholesterol levels, the sensitivity of the mouth (gingivitis), facilitate healing wounds, anti-stress, anti-cataract effects, etc. Almost no effect was recorded in individual intake (like headache) because a constant level of vitamin C in blood simply cannot be achieved. It should be taken daily. For example, prevention of flu (by raising resistence) cannot be achieved in March when flu is already raging, but in December when the flu does not yet exists. It is still questionable whether vitamin C should be taken as the addition to varied food. Yes, whenever there is unusual stress or strain effect on the body, vitamin C should be taken! If someone is constantly living under stress (such as pilots, surgeons, business people, active athletes), they can help themselves by regularly taking vitamin C which will enable them to adapt to stress more easily.

Where it can be found

Everything that is fresh and green contains a certain amount of ascorbic acid. The biggest source of vitamin C is a question for many authors, but up to now the main source certainly is acerola, american cherry (Malpighia punicifolia), i.e. 1 7000 mg/100 g. In our area standard sources of vitamin C are red pepper, rose hip (Rosa canina), broccoli, lemon, orange and many others.

Ascorbic acid finished products in their pure form (tablets or capsules, 100, 500 and 1 000 mg) or in combination with bioflavonids are used as supplements. It was found that vitamin C in conjunction with routine and hesperidin prevents the release of histamine, which is extremely important in turbulent allergic reactions such as, for example, hay fever. Vitamin C can be combined with medications, thus we can have a combination of aspirin and vitamin C.

Side effects

At recommended doses for healthy people usually there are no side effects, but doses above 2 000 mg daily may cause diarrhea in susceptible persons. It is noticed that higher doses may adversely affect the absorption of copper.Since vitamin C enhances iron absorption, it is recommended that anemic people take it with iron preparations. It is advisable that people who suffer from kidney stones avoid vitamin c because the higher doses (above 1 000 mg) promote the production of a very unpleasant oxalate.