Verified Document

Importance Of Vitamin C In Body Essay

Related Topics:

Vitamin C is not endogenously created in the human body, which is why it is essential that human beings receive enough Vitamin C in their diet. Diseases like scurvy can result from inadequate intake of Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C performs a plethora of functions in the human body. It is an antioxidant, it is involved in protein metabolism, and is "required for the biosynthesis of collagen, L-carnitine, and certain neurotransmitters," (National Institutes of Health, 2016). Because of the role of collagen in wound healing, it can be said that Vitamin C facilitates wound healing (NIH, 2016). Because of its antioxidant functions, Vitamin C is also critical for optimal immune system functioning (NIH, 2016). Vitamin C also improves the absorption of plant-based iron, or nonheme iron (NIH, 2016). Vitamin C is water soluble and is excreted in the urine.Absorption rates are optimal at moderate levels of intake, between 30 and 180 mg per day. Higher levels are not harmful, however, and may improve tissue and plasma production. "Results from pharmacokinetic studies indicate that oral doses of 1.25 g/day ascorbic acid produce mean peak plasma vitamin C concentrations of 135 micromol/L," and these levels are "about two times higher than those produced by consuming...

Therefore, even when foods rich in Vitamin C are consumed, it may be helpful to supplement with additional Vitamin C.


Benefits and Side Effects



Supplementing with Vitamin C enhances the body's ability to absorb iron, promotes wound healing, and helps the repair and maintenance of healthy bones, teeth, and cartilage (Wax, 2015). Other benefits of Vitamin C supplementation may include shorter durations of common colds, and "somewhat milder symptoms," although there is no evidence that supplementation reduces the risk of catching a cold (Wax, 2015). Vitamin C supplementation may be especially helpful for smokers, many of whom have low levels of Vitamin C because smoking cigarettes depletes Vitamin C from the body (Erlich, 2013). Low levels of Vitamin C are associated with a number of adverse health effects; low levels of Vitamin C increases the risk of high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, gallbladder disease, stroke, and even some cancers (Erlich, 2013). Anemia, bleeding gums, dry hair and skin, and swollen joints may all be indications of deficiency (Wax, 2015). Therefore, supplementation might decrease the risk for these and other conditions.

Because…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Vitamin C And Nutrition the
Words: 1399 Length: 5 Document Type: Thesis

This work by the Harvard School of public health states that while small trails have indicated that the amount of vitamin C contained in a typical multivitamin and taken in the beginning of the development of a cold "might ease symptoms" however, for the "average person, there's no evidence that megadoses make a difference or that they prevent colds." (2009) It is related as well that studies examining Vitamin

Vitamin D Supplementation: Health &
Words: 809 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

On the other hand, too much of a good thing can sometimes be even more harmful than too little. In that regard, it is very important to understand the role of vitamin D, both because of its role in maintaining our health, as well as because of the potential for harm associated with excessive supplementation. Unlike other vitamins and minerals, vitamin D is not readily available through diet because its

Holistic Family Importance of a
Words: 1212 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

This might also be supplemented with a regular multi-vitamin strategy for Tyrone and for his family. This also hints at the need for significant dietary strategy changes for Tyrone. However, as the family profile denotes, many of these issues stem from the habits of his wife Susan, who has taken on the familial role as the provider of food and the role model for eating habits. Another issue which will

Medicine - Vitamin D Research
Words: 1269 Length: 4 Document Type: Thesis

2004; Dakovska & Kovacheva 2003; Zella, McCary, and DeLuca 2003). In addition to skeletal functions, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance, substantial volumes of research indicate that hypovitaminosis D. also contributes to systemic inflammation by virtue of more than 200 distinct gene control functions of 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D (Holick 2007). While the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis relates to skeletal issues, the available evidence of the role of hypovitaminosis D. In systemic

Controlled Experiments Are Those in Which Groups
Words: 942 Length: 2 Document Type: Case Study

Controlled experiments are those in which groups are separated into control and experimental. Neither group knows what they are receiving, so they may or may not be receiving a sugar pill or something else. The control group is essential for comparisons -- what happens in the control group often determines how the experimental data is interpreted (Scientific Control Group, 2008). A double blind experiment is one in which some of the

Nutrition and Age Related Macular Degeneration
Words: 3247 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

Nutrition and Age Related Macular Fats/Fatty Acids Nutritional fats and fatty acids are a significant source of energy and an essential part of the human diet. Fatty acids are, in fact, central components of fat molecules. DHA and EPA are two of the most important fatty acids that are found in fleshy fish and other aquatic animals and help in the prevention of macular degeneration. Similar to carbohydrates, essential fatty acids are

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now