Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water soluble vitamin. Unlike most mammals, the human body is unable to produce Vitamin C on its own, so it must be obtained with food. "Vitamin C: diseases associated with its deficiency" - the theme of our today's article.
The action of the vitamin. Vitamin C is necessary for the synthesis of collagen - an important structural component of blood cells, tendons, ligaments and bones. It also plays an important role in the synthesis of norepinephrine neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters are vital for the function of the brain and affect the mood of a person. In addition, vitamin C is necessary for the synthesis of carnitine, a small molecule that plays an important role in transporting fats to cellular organelles called mitochondria, where fat is converted into energy. Recent studies also suggest that Vitamin C may be involved in the processing of cholesterol in bile acids, thus affecting the cholesterol level and the likelihood of gallstones in the gall bladder.
Vitamin C is also a highly effective antioxidant. Even in small amounts Vitamin C is able to protect irreplaceable molecules in the human body (for example, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals and reactive forms of oxygen formed as a result of normal metabolic processes or as a consequence of exposure to the body of toxic and toxic substances (for example, when smoking.) Vitamin C is also used to restore other antioxidants, for example, Vitamin E.
Insufficiency of vitamin C can lead to many diseases.
Scurvy. For many centuries, people knew that this disease, resulting from an acute shortage of Vitamin C in the body, leads to death. By the end of the 18th century, the British Navy knew that it was possible to cure scurvy with lemons or oranges, although Vitamin C itself was isolated only in the early 1930s.
Symptoms of scurvy: increased risk of damage to the skin and bleeding, loss of teeth and hair, pain and swelling of the joints. These symptoms, apparently, are associated with the weakening of the walls of blood vessels, connective tissue and bones in which collagen is contained. Early symptoms of scurvy, for example, fatigue, can occur due to a decrease in the level of carnitine, which is necessary for obtaining energy from fats. In developed countries, scurvy is rare, the daily receipt by the body of even 10 mg of Vitamin C is able to prevent it. However, recently there have been cases of scurvy in children and older people who have been on very strict diets.
Sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C is rich in various vegetables, fruits and berries, as well as greens. The largest content of vitamin C in citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruit). Just enough of the vitamin is found in strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and broccoli.
Additives. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is sold in various forms in pharmacies. As in individual sources, and as part of multicomplex vitamins.
Excess of vitamin C in the body can occur only with excessive use of food additives. In this case, a person may have symptoms of insomnia, an increase in blood pressure. The condition is normalized when the excess intake of the vitamin stops.
The level of essential vitamin content in the body for an adult is 75-100 mg per day. For children 50-75. At smokers, the need for a vitamin increases to 150 mg.
Remember, vitamin C is very important for every person. The main thing is that its content in you was normal.