Vitamin C Flashcards
What is vitamin C also called?
Ascorbic acid
List the properties of vitamin C
10
Most unstable vitamin
Insoluble in fat
Water soluble
Antioxidant
Acidic with a sharp or sour taste
Destroyed by heat
Destroyed by alkalis
Destroyed by light
Destroyed by oxidase (an enzyme present in the cell walls of fruit and vegetables)
Destroyed by metals e.g. copper
What destroys vitamin C?
5
Heat Alkalis Light Oxidase Metals
List the sources of vitamin C
11
Rosehips Blackcurrants Kiwis Oranges Strawberries Lemons Tomatoes Broccoli Potatoes Cabbage Peppers
List the functions of vitamin C
7
Forms healthy gums and prevents inflammation
Absorption of calcium
Forms collagen
Promotes quick wound healing
Assists absorption of iron
Maintains the immune system
Powerful antioxidant
Vitamin C forms collagen, describe this function
Collagen helps to hold cells together to form tissue such as skin or blood vessels
Vitamin C assist the absorption of iron, describe this function
Vitamin C chemically changes ferric iron (non-haem iron) into ferrous iron (haem)
Vitamin C maintains the immune system, describe this function
Vitamin C helps white blood cells to fight illness and infection
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, describe this function
It can counteract the damaging effects of free radicals
List the effects of a deficiency of vitamin C
6
Scurvy
Weakened body tissues
Wounds take longer too heal resulting in infection
Anaemia
Increased susceptibility to illness and infection
Risk of damage to cells by free radicals
A lack of vitamin C results in scurvy, describe this deficiency
(2)
It is a severe gum disease
Results in inflamed or receding gums that cause teeth to become loose and fall out and haemorrhaging under the skin
List the symptoms of scurvy
3
Haemorrhaging under the skin
Loose teeth which may fall out
Inflamed or receding gums
A lack of vitamin C results in weakened body tissues, describe this deficiency
Weakened body tissues results in blood vessels rupturing easily leading to bruising and bleeding
A lack of vitamin C results in anaemia, describe this deficiency
As vitamin C aids the absorption of iron a lack of vitamin C results in reduced absorption of iron which is needed to make haemoglobin
A lack of vitamin C results in damage to cells by free radicals, describe this deficiency
This increases the risk of some cancers, coronary heart disease and strokes
