Vitamin C

(ascorbic acid, ascorbate)

DRI (RDA or AI for Adults)

Males: 90 mg. Females: 75 mg. Smokers: an additional 35 mg. Pregnancy: 85 mg. Lactation: 120 mg.

Adult Maintenance - Therapeutic Range

500 - 10,000 mg (or 90% bowel tolerance)

Major Sources (125 mg to 25 mg per serving)

Orange juice, grapefruit juice, papaya, strawberry, red pepper, cantaloupe, tomato juice, broccoli, mango, Brussels sprouts, peapods, green pepper, cauliflower, kale, red cabbage.

Non-Therapeutic Importance

Maintains intracellular cement substance with preservation of capillary integrity; co-substrate in hydroxylations requiring molecular oxygen; important in immune response, wound healing, and allergic reactions; increases absorption of nonheme (plant source) iron.

Deficiency Symptoms

Bleeding gums
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Retarded wound healing
Scurvy
Spontaneous rupture of capillaries

Increased Risk for Deficiency

Alcoholism
Elderly
Smoking
Stress
Surgical and cancer patients

Possible Therapeutic Applications

CONSULT WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FIRST: HIGH DOSAGE NOTE: Large doses may interfere with diabetes medications or testing. Supplementation may prevent, correct deficiencies caused by, or be helpful with, the following conditions:

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS, HIV)
Aging
Alcoholism
Allergies (allergic rhinitis, hay fever)
Angina Pectoris
Anxiety
Asthma
Atherosclerosis (heart disease)
Cancer
Candidiasis (yeast infection)
Capillary Fragility (bruising)
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Cardiomyopathy
Cataracts
Cerebrovascular Disease (including stroke)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, CFIDS)
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Crohn's Disease
Diabetes
Eczema
Gallstones (cholelithiasis)
Glaucoma
Gout
Headache (migraine)
Hepatitis
Herpes Simplex (cold sores)
Herpes Zoster (shingles)
Hives (urticaria)
Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Immunodepression (immune function)
Impotence
Infection (colds, flu, etc.)
Infertility (female)
Infertility (male)
Inflammation (including bursitis)
Intermittent Claudication (poor circulation)
Learning Disorders (including ADHD)
Macular Degeneration
Memory Loss (Alzheimer's disease, dementia)
Menopause
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Parkinson's Disease
Peptic Ulcers
Periodontal Disease
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Psoriasis
Retinopathy
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma
Sinusitis (sinus infection)
Ulcerative Colitis
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Wound Healing