vitamin C
Vitamin C was discovered when Scurvy was used to treat seafarers on long journeys. A study of many substances tested on men with this deadly disease found that a compound in juice Lemon and orange cure the symptoms of the disease, and then this compound was isolated and named as ascorbic acid, and then began to manufacture a little later, and today hundreds of millions of pills of vitamin C are manufactured and sold annually.
Vitamin C is produced in plants from glucose and galactose. It is of great importance in the human body, but it can not be manufactured. Therefore, it is considered to be a basic nutrient to be obtained from food. This article aims to talk about this vitamin and its importance and the purposes of using its pills and its effectiveness.
Vitamin C Functions
Vitamin C has many important and fundamental functions in the human body, including the following:
- Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant by giving an electron or two to the free radicals, thus reducing the level of oxidative stress in the body and preventing it from many diseases. It increases the absorption of iron in the intestine by protecting it from oxidation.
- An important factor in the production of collagen, which is the primary protein in fibrous tissues, such as connective tissue, cartilage, bone matrix, tooth dentin, skin and ligaments, which plays an important role in wound healing and cell cohesion. , Which shows its importance in the walls of blood vessels, which must tolerate contraction and relaxation with each pulse of the heart, and iron works as a catalyst in the process of collagen, while vitamin C works to protect him from oxidation, and without any of them is a defect in the manufacture.
- It helps in the manufacture of carnitine, which transports long chain fatty acids into the mitochondria to obtain energy.
- It helps to convert amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine into neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine.
- Vitamin C is released from the glands of the adrenal glands, the body’s most dominant organ, with hormones in stress and stress, but its role in these cases is unclear. However, vitamin C needs increase in physical stress, including The use of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, and the continued use of aspirin and barbiturates, central nervous system inhibitors used to treat anxiety, insomnia, Gat and others, contraceptive drugs, smoking, and the amount of vitamin C raised in the urine in cases of stress, emotional or physiological.
- Participates in the manufacture of some steroids in kidney tissues.
- Resistance to infection is conferred through the participation of white blood cells in its immune work, in the production of interferon, in the inflammatory process, and in the safety of mucous tissue, but studies have differed in the effect of its high doses in the prevention of colds, Doses severity and severity of symptoms, but do not prevent infection.
Daily needs and maximum vitamin C
The following table shows the daily needs and maximum daily intake of vitamin C by age group:
Age group | Daily needs (mg / day) | Upper limit (mg / day) |
---|---|---|
Infants 0-0.5 years old | 30 | Not defined |
Infants 0.5-1 years old | 35 | Not defined |
Children 1-3 | 15 | 400 |
Children 4-8 years | 25 | 650 |
Males and females 9-13 years | 45 | 1200 |
Males 14-18 years old | 75 | 1800 |
Males 19 years and over | 90 | 2000 |
Females 14-18 years old | 65 | 1800 |
Females 19 years and over | 75 | 2000 |
Pregnant women 18 years and younger | 80 | 1800 |
Pregnant women 19-50 years old | 85 | 2000 |
Lactating women 18 years and younger | 115 | 1800 |
Lactating women 19-50 years | 120 | 2000 |
Vitamin C deficiency
Vitamin C deficiency causes ascorbic disease, which shows symptoms after about 45 to 80 days of deprivation. In children, the disease is called “Moeller-Barlow”. It can also affect infants in the case of non-vitamin C The symptoms of hypoglycemia include bleeding of the gums, bleeding of subcutaneous capillaries, dysfunction of healing of wounds, edema or edema, hemorrhage, weakness of bones, muscles, teeth, cartilage, and connective tissues. Adults with scurvy may experience bloating of the gums with Bleeding, falling teeth, and Tuberculosis, fatigue, rheumatic pain in the legs, muscle atrophy, and skin ulcers, as well as some psychological problems, such as depression, hypochondria, and hysteria.
Food Sources of Vitamin C
Fruits, vegetables and internal organs are the best sources of vitamin C. Acidic fruits and their juices are the most important sources of food, especially among people who do not eat other fruits and vegetables, but they are certainly not the only sources rich in it. Strawberry, watermelon, tomato, broccoli, pepper, kiwi, cabbage And others are important sources and rich, and does not need people who eat these foods adequately to take vitamin C supplements, but it must be taken into account that the content of food vitamin C may vary depending on the conditions of growth and touch The maturity of the harvest and the storage conditions, where the cooling and milling is maintained more than the higher temperatures, and the content of vegetables and fruits usually extracted from vitamin C is higher than their long-distance transport, which spend a long time in storage and on the shelves of markets; Frozen fruits are frozen close to their harvest, so they maintain higher levels of this vitamin.
Vitamin C pills
Vitamin C supplements are one of the most commonly used vitamin supplements, and are used in all of the following:
- Treatment of vitamin C deficiency, which includes scurvy and related problems, in which supplements are effective.
- Help increase the absorption of iron.
- Taking vitamin C with zinc, vitamin E, and beta-carotene daily, not without zinc, can contribute to preventing or slowing blindness in age-related macular degeneration.
- Vitamin C and vitamin E reduce the level of protein in urine in cases of diabetes.
- It may be effective in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and decreasing its speed of development.
- The increased intake of vegetables and fruits reduces the risk of oral cancer and some other cancers, but it does not appear to be taken from its supplements with the same effect.
- Many scientific studies have found that taking high doses of vitamin C can reduce the duration of cold and cold for a day or a day and a half, but is ineffective in preventing it.
- Contraindications can help prevent complex regional pain syndrome, which has been found to reduce injury after wrist fractures.
- Reducing the risk of kidney problems after angiography.
- Taking vitamin C before exercise, such as marathon, can help reduce the risk of upper respiratory infection.
- Some studies have found that taking vitamin C reduces the risk of gallbladder disease in women, not men.
- Some studies suggest a role for vitamin C in reducing side effects of ulcers caused by bovine spongiform bacteria (English: Helecobacter pylori ), Such as precancerous lesions.
- It can help in the treatment of anemic anemia.
- Taking vitamin C supplements with pressure medications, not alone, may help lower systolic blood pressure slightly.
- Taking it can reduce lead levels in the blood.
- It can help prolong the effectiveness of chest pain medications, such as nitroglycerine.
- Vitamin C supplementation improves oxygen intake during adolescent exercise.
- Taking vitamin C with vitamin E, and not alone, helps reduce the risk of sunburn.
- Some studies suggest that taking vitamin C reduces the effect of aspirin on the stomach.
- Some studies suggest that taking vitamin C alleviates the symptoms of hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit, while other studies have found no effect.
- Some preliminary studies suggest that eating it reduces the symptoms of autism.
- Some limited studies suggest that taking it reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer.
- Some preliminary studies suggest that taking it reduces colon and rectal damage after chronic exposure to radiation.
- Taking vitamin C can reduce both glucose and lipids in patients with diabetes, according to some preliminary studies, while others have found that it does not lower blood sugar.
- Some studies suggest that taking vitamin C supplements helps prevent pre-cancerous gastric lesions from turning into cancer in people who have a higher risk of stomach cancer.
- Taking vitamin C with vitamin B compound and vitamin E during pregnancy and breastfeeding can contribute to the risk of transmitting HIV to the child.
- Some studies suggest that eating it lowers the level of bad cholesterol in cases of high cholesterol.
- Some preliminary studies suggest that taking it may help women with some fertility problems.
- Some limited studies suggest that taking it reduces blood pressure and some other symptoms in stressful situations.
- Some preliminary studies suggest that it may improve some of the liver function in non-alcoholic fatty acid (steatohepatitis).
- Some studies suggest a role for vitamin C in reducing the risk of pneumonia and reducing its duration.
- Taking vitamin C with vitamin E and a long-lived garlic extract can help people with sickle cell anemia.
- Some studies suggest that taking vitamin C with Tetanus in children reduces the risk of death.
Vitamin C toxicity
Most of the causes of high doses of vitamin C are gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhea. This is a good thing because of the high prevalence of dietary vitamin C supplementation. However, because vitamin C is formed by the oxalate, Although scientific research has found only a slight increase in the level of oxalate in urine in people who have been given several doses of daily vitamin C, in all cases should be taken care and caution by people who already have kidney stones. High doses of vitamin C can also cause positive blood glucose analysis, which is not the case.