Nutrition, deficiency & diseases: Category: Vitamin C

Category: Vitamin C

Vitamin C deficiency disease - Scurvy

Though many animals can synthesize it in their body and are free from scurvy, unfortunately man has to depend on his food sources for vitamin C. Inadequate or irregular intake of ascorbic acid can lead to clinical manifestations of this disease in two to three months.

Vitamin C rich sources - Vegetables

The vitamin C availability in vegetables decreases inversely in proportion with the length of storage and the temperature at which stored. Longer cooking duration and boiling for longer time causes reduction in the availability of vitamin C.

Vitamin C and liver detoxification

Most of these toxic substances are absorbed into the body through gastrointestinal system, lungs and skin. Many toxic chemicals are also produced as by-products of biological processes.

Vitamin C and heart disease

Subclinical form of vitamin C deficiency exists in many people leading to diseases like cardiac disease, strokes, diabetes etc. Clinical prevention of scurvy disease can be achieved with daily intake of about 100 gm of vitamin C.

Oxalate stones in kidney and vitamin C

Kidney regulates the plasma levels of vitamin C. The feared formation of oxalate stones due to high vitamin C is unfound. In fact vitamin C helps in the dissolution of other types of kidney stones.

Vitamin C rich fruit sources

Vitamin C is abundantly available in the citrus fruits. However the richest sources of ascorbic acid are not citrus fruits. Ten known richest sources are described here under in the order of richness in ascorbic acid.

Antioxidant function of vitamin C

During the biological process of metabolism and energy production a number of free radicals (reactive oxygen species) are generated in the body which are useful, in small quantities, for further biological activities.

Vitamin C in collagen synthesis

It is the abundant protein in the human body, makes up to 30% of its protein content. In the skin 75% of the dermis is made up of it. Vitamin C plays an important role as cofactor in its formation.

Vitamin C synthesis and production

Earlier vitamin C has been made commercially by extracting it from plants. Later vitamin C was chemically synthesized. Presently it is being made by two processes.

Functions of vitamin C

Function of vitamin C in our body includes many vital metabolic activities like protein synthesis, energy production, antioxidative actions and neuro-transmission.

Health benefits of vitamin C

Vitamin c influences the immune system and helps in its fight against bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. It is shown to stimulate production and function of white blood corpuscles (leukocytes).

Vitamin C interference with other nutrients

It is a well known fact that ascorbic acid enhances the absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract. It helps in absorption of iron in the non-heme form by converting it into ferrous state.

Vitamin C toxicity

Excess ascorbic acid may interfere with the pro oxidant-antioxidant balance in the human body and reversely lead to decrease in immunity. In children severe skin rashes and abdominal cramps have been observed on high ascorbic acid ingestion.

Vitamin C food sources

A number of fruits like papayas, lemons, oranges, pineapples etc.. contain considerable amounts of ascorbic acid and are great natural resources.

Excess and overdose of vitamin C

A person's age, gender, health condition, food habits, surroundings and many other factors decide whether the given quantity is excess overdose for him. To determine a quantity as excess of vitamin C is a controversial matter.

Signs and symptoms of scurvy

The typical scurvy symptoms and signs include general weakness, painful joints and muscles, hemorrhage of gums and mucous membranes, anemia, livid spots on the legs and corkscrew hair.

Treatment and prevention of scurvy

The scurvy treatment is simple and easy and in about a month of treatment complete recovery can be achieved. Treatment of scurvy involves intake of vitamin C rich citrus fruits, vegetables and vitamin C supplements.

What is scurvy?

Dietary deficiency of ascorbic acid may be due taking diet poor in this vitamin. Diet lacking fresh fruits and vegetables leads to the ailment. Infantile scurvy is sometimes found in babies, whose mothers had taken very high doses of ascorbic acid during pregnancy.

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