Ascorbic Acid, more commonly known as Vitamin C, is one among many other essential vitamins the body needs to be healthy and work efficiently. Ascorbic Acid is a water-soluble antioxidant, which helps block cellular damage caused by free radicals that occur when our bodies transform food into energy. This powerful vitamin aids the body’s health by a number of roles!
In humans, an exogenous source of ascorbic acid is required for collagen and elastin formation as well as tissue repair. Collagen and elastin are important proteins used to make skin, tendons, hair, teeth, blood vessels, nails, ligaments, and cartilage!
Ascorbic acid is reversibly oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid in the body. These two forms of the vitamin are believed to be important in oxidation-reduction reactions. The vitamin is involved in tyrosine metabolism, conversion of folic acid to folinic acid, carbohydrate metabolism, synthesis of lipids and proteins, iron metabolism, resistance to infections, and cellular respiration.
Other roles Vitamin C/Ascorbic Acid takes in the body:
– Anti-histamine
– Anti-viral
– Regulates blood sugar
– Mood elevator
Depending on how Vitamin C deficient a person is determines their severity of symptoms. In mild cases, people who are deficient in Ascorbic Acid commonly have one or more of the following symptoms: weakened immune system, edema, exhaustion, ulcers and/or bleeding of the gums/teeth, faulty bone and tooth development, gingivitis, and loosened teeth. If the body is intensely deprived of Vitamin C, worse symptoms arise, and the risk for illness increases. Febrile states, chronic illness, and infection (pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, sinusitis, rheumatic fever, etc.) increase the need for ascorbic acid. To add, hemovascular disorders, burns, delayed fracture and wound healing are also indications for an increase in the daily intake.
Scurvy is a disease caused by significant lack of Vitamin C. In Scurvy, collagenous structures are primarily affected, which leads to development of lesions in bones, ligaments, and blood vessels. This disease may cause symptoms such as rash, muscle weakness, joint pain, tiredness, or tooth loss.
Administration of ascorbic acid completely reverses the symptoms of ascorbic acid deficiency. The reason why one vitamin can cure so many illnesses is because the deficiency of one vitamin can cause many illnesses.
There are no contraindications to the administration of ascorbic acid. Diabetics, patients prone to recurrent renal calculi, those undergoing stool occult blood tests and those on sodium restricted diets or anticoagulant therapy should not take excessive doses of ascorbic acid over an extended period of time.
A Few Ways to Increase Your Intake of Vitamin C:
1) Eat more foods that are rich in Vitamin C/Ascorbic Acid:
– Broccoli
– Citrus fruits (use your lemons!)
– Tomatoes
– Cabbage
– Red bell pepper
– Brussels sprouts
– Papaya
– Strawberries
– Leafy green vegetables
2) Ascorbic Acid/Vitamin C injections
3) Orally take over-the-counter Vitamin C supplements
Ask a member of Blue Root staff about
our Vitamin C injection options today!