Vitamin C

Question 1

Vitamin C Functions

Answer 1

• Antiscurvy factor: ascorbic acid (lime juice on ships for the anitscuvy factor in citrus fruit named ascorbic acid)
• metabolic roles of vitamin C (plays man important roles in the body - modes of action differ in different situations)
• Vitamin C’s role in collagen formation (helping form collagen which is the single most important protein of connective tissue. bones, scars, attaches one cell to another (especially important in arteries))
• Vitamin C as an antioxidant (protects water soluble substances in the same way vit E and beta-carotene do. by being oxidized itself it regenerates already oxidized substances such as iron, returning it to its active form. protects iron from oxidation therefore increasing its absorption. in cells, helps protect vitamin e and a and PUFA)
• Vitamin C in amino acid metabolism (involved in the metabolism of several amino acids, and the production of carnitine, important for transporting fatty acids within cells)
• Role of stress (likely play an important role in the stress response and act synergistically with cortisol and catecholamines.)
• Vitamin C as a possible antihistamine
• Vitamin C’s role in cancer prevention and treatment (high doses of injected vitamin C may enhance the cancer-fighting effects of drugs or decrease the side effects)

Question 2

Vitamin C deficiency

Answer 2

• Affect on blood vessels: bleeding gums and pinpoint hemorrhages
• scurvy (bruise easily, bleeding gums, pinpoint hemorrhages, joint pain)

Question 3

Vitamin C toxicity

Answer 3

• GI symptoms, food-drug interactions, false urine test results
• Increased kidney stone risk with gout or genetic abnormality in vitamin C metabolism

Question 4

Recommended intakes of Vitamin C

Answer 4

RDA for men: 90 mg
RDA for women: 75 mg

Question 5

Safe limits

Answer 5

100-300 mg/day

Question 6

Special needs for vitamin C

Answer 6

• infections, burns, surgery, extremely high or low temperatures, toxic doses of heavy metals, chronic medication use
• smokers: recommendation of 125mg/day for men and 110 mg/day for women

Question 7

Vitamin C in foods

Answer 7

Many fruits and vegetables

Question 8

Vitamin C and iron absorption

Answer 8

eating foods containing vit C at the same meal with foods containing iron can double or triple absorption of iron from those foods. highly recommended for women and children