Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble essential vitamin. It is a very popular dietary supplement due to its antioxidant properties and safety.

Vitamin C is often supplemented to reduce the symptoms of the common cold.

However, vitamin C is unable to reduce the frequency of colds in a healthy population. An athlete supplementing vitamin C, on the other hand, can expect to cut the risk of getting a cold in half. Supplemental vitamin C is able to reduce the duration of a cold by 8-14% in any population, when it is taken as a daily preventative measure, or at the beginning of a cold. Though super loading vitamin C (5-10g daily) is said to be more effective, further research is needed to determine the accuracy of this claim.

Vitamin C is capable of being both an antioxidant and pro-oxidant, depending on what the body needs. This mechanism allows it to serve a variety of functions in the body.

Vitamin C sequesters free radicals in the body. It is replenished by antioxidant enzymes, and is often used as a reference drug in antioxidant research. Vitamin C’s structure allows it to act on neurology and depression, as well as interact with the pancreas and modulate cortisol. Its antioxidant properties mean vitamin C provides neuro protective effects and benefits for blood flow. By protecting the testes from oxidative stress, vitamin C can also preserve testosterone levels.

The Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of vitamin C is 100-200mg. This is easily attained through the diet, so supplementation of such low doses is usually unnecessary. Higher doses of vitamin C, up to 2,000mg, are used to support the immune system (for athletes) or reduce the duration of the common cold.

Most studies on vitamin C prescribe one dose per day. The claim that taking 2,000mg up to five times a day to optimally reduce cold symptoms is not sufficiently tested and requires more evidence.

We stock 2 products on Holistics Online Mercola Vitamin C and Flavo Plex C

For the next 2 weeks we are offering 20% discount on both products.

Posted by Emma Lane Emma is recognized as one of the UK’s leading holistic health and lifestyle experts and has trained extensively in Europe and America.