Vitamin C

Vitamin C belongs to water-soluble vitamins. Actually under such general name several forms of this substance – аскорбиген are integrated, isoascorbic acid, offended palmitate, a calcium ascorbate, etc.

The disease which was called a scurvy, and in transfer on Latin – "scurvy" developed in old times during the long travel at a lack of vitamin C of a diet at people. The name "ascorbic acid" comes from this word that in transfer means "protivotsingovy".

We will well dissolve vitamin C in water, spirit solutions, in alkaline and neutral environments it is inactivated, it is rather steady in subacidic environments. In general this very unstable substance which quickly collapses at the increased temperature, at contact with metals. The long soaking of products leads to transition of the most part of ascorbic acid to water, and 2-3 months of storage of fresh vegetables later and fruit a half of the vitamin which is contained in them collapses.

Content of vitamin is C in products

Most of all contains vitamin C in products of plant origin – fruit, berries, vegetables and herbs. In them it can contain in the oxidized, free and connected forms. In the connected state ascorbic acid is soaked up much worse, and in the oxidized form activity its same, as well as in free.

Content of vitamin is C in some products (mg / 100):

• Brussels sprout – 120;
• Pepper green sweet – 150;
• Tomatoes soil – 100;
• Orange – 60;
• Dogrose fresh – 470;
• Blackcurrant – 200;
• Horse-radish – 55;
• Cranberry – 15;
• Sea-buckthorn – 200;
• Spinach – 55;
• Parsley greens – 150;
• Cabbage fermented – 30;
• Wild strawberry garden – 60;
• White cabbage – 45;
• Apples Antonovka – 30;
• Lemon – 40;
• Tangerine – 38;
• Parsley a root – 35;
• Fresh chanterelle mushrooms – 34;
• Swede – 30;
• Cherry – 15;
• Gooseberry – 30;
• Radish – 29;
• Kefir fat – 0,7;
• Fresh green peas – 25;
• Raspberry – 25;
• Garden radish – 25;
• Quince – 23;
• Potatoes – 20;
• Haricot pods – 20;
• Cowberry – 15;
• Salad-15;
• Apricots – 10;
• Bananas – 10;
• Onion – 10;
• Water-melon – 7.

Heat treatment destroys to 90% of vitamin C in products. At long transportation of fruit and vegetables from the place of their growth the content of vitamin C in them also decreases. It does not occur if before transportation to subject products to bystry freezing. To keep in them as long as possible ascorbic acid, it is necessary to store them in the cool and dark place.

Norms of consumption of vitamin C

The need for ascorbic acid during the different periods of life differs, it is higher in living conditions on Far North at pregnancy and breastfeeding, at stresses and an exercise stress, in the presence of addictions.

Children of the first half of the year of life need 30 mg/days of ascorbic acid, from 6 to 12 months – 35 mg/days, aged from 1 up to 3 years – 40 mg/days, from 4 to 10 years – 45 mg/days.

Boys from 11 to 14 years need in 50 mg of ascorbic acid a day, men up to 50 years of 60 mg/days, 50 years – 70 mg/days are more senior.

Girls at the age of 11-14 years have enough 50 mg/days of ascorbic acid, to women up to 60 years of 60 mg/days, at pregnancy requirement increases to 100 mg/days, in the period of a lactation to 120 mg/days.

Role of ascorbic acid in an organism

It is difficult to revaluate a vitamin C role in an organism, he participates in many important processes of an organism:

• Takes part in formation of collagen – the main component of connecting fabric;
• Does walls of blood vessels by stronger;
• Raises a host defense;
• Reduces the content of cholesterol;
• Participates in adrenaline synthesis, in metabolism of folic acid;
• Carries out protection of an organism against free radicals of oxygen;
• Reduces harmful effects of excess of sugar;
• Improves an angenesis;
• Increases resistance to a stress;
• Stimulates transformation of bivalent iron in trivalent which is better acquired by an organism.

Signs of a lack of vitamin C

In case of a hypovitaminosis resistance of an organism to infectious diseases decreases, outward of skin and hair worsens – skin becomes excessively dry, flabby, there are wrinkles, punctulate hemorrhages in the field of hair follicles, hair easily drop out and become dim.

The lack of vitamin C can be distinguished on the following symptoms:

• The raised bleeding of gums, hemorrhages in hypodermic cellulose ("bruises");
• Joint pain and muscles;
• Apathy, irritability, bystry fatigue;
• Bad healing of wounds and cuts;
• Reduced pressure.

Hypovitaminosis contributes to obesity.

Signs of excess of vitamin C

The use in high doses of ascorbic acid causes its overdose that is shown in deterioration in neuromuscular transmission, and from here and increased fatigue. Coordination of movements and their coherence with the visual analyzer is broken. There are failures in work of a pancreas, a liver that provokes digestive disturbances. Excess of ascorbic acid acidifies urine and is capable to cause loss of urates and oxalates in draft.

Use of vitamin C with the medical purpose

Ascorbic acid is used in schemes of treatment of allergic diseases, SARS and catarrhal diseases, herpes, obesity, by depressions, the increased uneasiness, a syndrome of a hyperactivity, atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis, an osteoarthrosis, anemia, alcoholism and others.

It is known that the lack of vitamin C provokes development of cancer diseases. Vitamin is accepted for the purpose of increase in physical and emotional stability. Its doses are individual depending on age and a disease. For prevention adults accept 50-100 mg of ascorbic acid after food once a day. The medical dose averages 50-100 mg of 3-5 times a day. Drugs on the basis of ascorbic acid for intake and solutions for intravenous and intramuscular administration are created.

Contraindications to vitamin C

Additional reception of vitamin C in dosage forms at tendency to a thrombogenesis, thrombophlebitises, the increased coagulability of blood is not recommended, at a diabetes mellitus.