Vitamin C

Don’t go to sea without itBy Bruce Crowell

How does your body use the nutrient?

• Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is used to:• Form an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels• Heal wounds and form scar tissue• Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth

• Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals.• Free radicals are made when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to tobacco

smoke or radiation.• The buildup of free radicals over time is largely responsible for the aging process.• Free radicals may play a role in cancer, heart disease, and conditions like arthritis.

• The body is not able to make vitamin C on its own, and it does not store vitamin C. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet.

– Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development.– Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the

urine. – That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet.

In what foods is this nutrient found?• Some animals can make their own vitamin C, but people must get this vitamin from food and other

sources. • Fresh fruits like

– Cantaloupe– Citrus fruits and juices, such as orange and grapefruit– Kiwi fruit– Mango– Papaya– Pineapple– Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries– Watermelon– Vegetables

• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower• Green and red peppers• Spinach, cabbage, turnip greens, and other leafy greens• Sweet and white potatoes• Tomatoes and tomato juice• Winter squash

– Vitamin C can also be made in a laboratory.

What happens if your body does not have enough (deficiency) or has too much (excess) of this nutrient?

• Too little vitamin C can lead to signs and symptoms of deficiency, including: – Anemia– Bleeding gums– Decreased ability to fight infection– Decreased wound-healing rate– Dry and splitting hair– Easy bruising– Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)– Nosebleeds– Possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism– Rough, dry, scaly skin– Swollen and painful joints– Weakened tooth enamel– Not having Vit C could get you Scurvy but now a days its relatively rare

• Serious side effects from too much vitamin C are very rare, because the body cannot store the vitamin.• However, amounts greater than 2,000 mg/day are not recommended because such high doses can lead to stomach upset

and diarrhea.

Is there something else that increase or decreases the

absorption of this nutrient? • Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination• Aluminum interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Aluminum is found in most antacids. Vitamin C can increase how much aluminum the body absorbs. But it isn't clear if this interaction is a big concern. Take vitamin C two hours before or four hours after antacids.

• Estrogens interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• The body breaks down estrogens to get rid of them. Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of estrogens. Taking vitamin C along with estrogens might increase the effects and side effects of estrogens.

• Fluphenazine (Prolixin) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease how much fluphenazine (Prolixin) is in the body. Taking vitamin C along with fluphenazine (Prolixin) might decrease the effectiveness of fluphenazine (Prolixin).

• Medications for cancer (Chemotherapy) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

Is there something else that increase or decreases the absorption of this nutrient?

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant. There is some concern that antioxidants might decrease the effectiveness of some medications used for cancers. But it is too soon to know if this interaction occurs.

• Medications used for HIV/AIDS (Protease Inhibitors) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Taking large doses of vitamin C might reduce how much of some medications used for HIV/AIDS stays in the body. This could decrease the effectiveness of some medications used for HIV/AIDS.Some of these medications used for HIV/AIDS include amprenavir (Agenerase), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase).

• Medications used for lowering cholesterol (Statins) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Taking vitamin C, beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamin E together might decrease the effectiveness of some medications used for lowering cholesterol. It is not known if vitamin C alone decreases the effectiveness of some medications used for lowering cholesterol. Some medications used for lowering cholesterol include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), and pravastatin (Pravachol).

• Niacin interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Taking vitamin C along with vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium might decrease some of the helpful effects of niacin. Niacin can increase the good cholesterol. Taking vitamin C along with these other vitamins might decrease the effectiveness of niacin for increasing good cholesterol.

Is there something else that increase or decreases the absorption of this nutrient?

• Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the risk of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.

• Minor Interaction Be watchful with this combination• Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• The body breaks down acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to get rid of it. Large amounts of vitamin C can decrease how quickly the body breaks down acetaminophen. It is not clear exactly when or if this interaction is a big concern.

• Aspirin interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• The body breaks down aspirin to get rid of it. Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease the breakdown of aspirin. Decreasing the breakdown of aspirin might increase the effects and side effects of aspirin. Do not take large amounts of vitamin C if you take large amounts of aspirin.

• Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate (Trilisate) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

Is there something else that increase or decreases the absorption of this nutrient?

Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate). But it is not clear if this interaction is a big concern.

• Nicardipine (Cardene) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Vitamin C is taken up by cells. Taking nicardipine (Cardene) along with vitamin C might decrease how much vitamin C is taken in by cells. The significance of this interaction is not clear.

• Nifedipine interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Vitamin C is taken up by cells. Taking nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia) along with vitamin C might decrease how much vitamin C is taken in by cells. The significance of this interaction is not clear.

• Salsalate (Disalcid) interacts with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)

• Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of salsalate (Disalcid). Taking vitamin C along with salsalate (Disalcid) might cause too much salsalate (Disalcid) in the body, and increase the effects and side effects of salsalate.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vitamin C is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant or breast-feeding women when taken in the recommended amount of 120 mg per day. Taking too much vitamin C during pregnancy can cause problems for the newborn baby.

Angioplasty, a heart procedure: Avoid taking supplements containing vitamin C or other antioxidant vitamins (beta-carotene, vitamin E) immediately before and following angioplasty without the supervision of a health care professional. These vitamins seem to interfere with proper healing.

Cancer: Cancerous cells collect high concentrations of vitamin C. Until more is known, only use high doses of vitamin C under the direction of your oncologist.

Diabetes: Vitamin C might raise blood sugar. In older women with diabetes, vitamin C in amounts greater than 300 mg per day increases the risk of death from heart disease. Do not take vitamin C in doses greater than those found in basic multivitamins.

Blood-iron disorders, including conditions called “thalassemia” and “hemochromatosis”: Vitamin C can increase iron absorption, which might make these conditions worse. Avoid large amounts of vitamin C.

Kidney stones, or a history of kidney stones: Large amounts of vitamin C can increase the chance of getting kidney stones. Do not take vitamin C in amounts greater than those found in basic multivitamins.

A metabolic deficiency called “glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency” (G6PDD): Large amounts of vitamin C can cause red blood cells to break in people with this condition. Avoid excessive amounts of vitamin C.

Sickle cell disease: Vitamin C might make this condition worse. Avoid using large amounts of vitamin C.

In the News• Date:• October 15, 2013• Source:• University of Missouri-Columbia• Summary:• A research team is addressing the US fiber deficit by including citrus fiber in ground

beef while retaining the quality and taste of the meat.• Gedikoglu discovered that the citrus fiber increased the cooking yield of the meatball recipe,

and that the texture and color of the meatballs remained acceptable when keeping fiber at the 1 or 5 percent levels

• She also will study the potential antioxidant benefits of citrus powder. Citrus fruits, particularly their peels, are rich with flavonoids, a nutrient in plants that can help prevent diseases in humans such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Cite Work• "Fruit and Vegetables - Google Search." Fruit and Vegetables - Google Search. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.• University of Missouri-Columbia. (2013, October 15). Adding citrus fiber to

meatballs improves nutritional quality, does not affect taste. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 23, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131015123836.htm

• "Vitamin C Benefits and Side Effects - Google Search." Vitamin C Benefits and Side Effects - Google Search. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

• "Vitamin C: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

• "Vitamin C (VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)): Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings - WebMD." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.