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Vitamin C is essential for collagen formation, enzyme function, immune support, and acts as an antioxidant.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid/ascorbate) is a water-soluble essential nutrient found in citrus fruits, berries, and vegetables. In the body, it supports tissue repair and is required for collagen formation, helps enable the activity of several enzymes, contributes to immune system function, and acts as an antioxidant. It is also involved in the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters. Because most animals can synthesize vitamin C, deficiency is mainly a concern for species that cannot, including higher primates (such as humans). Humans must obtain vitamin C from the diet, and plasma vitamin C levels are commonly used to assess vitamin status. Vitamin C is generally well tolerated, but very large intakes can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and other side effects; therefore, recommended intakes and tolerable upper limits are established by health authorities. Clinically, vitamin C’s most well-established health role is preventing and treating scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency that leads to impaired collagen stability and dysfunction of multiple enzymes. Beyond scurvy, evidence for vitamin C supplementation preventing or treating other diseases is mixed or disputed, with reviews often reporting conflicting results.
Vitamin C is essential for collagen formation, enzyme function, immune support, and acts as an antioxidant.
Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C effectively, so dietary intake is required; plasma levels are used to assess deficiency risk.
Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy due to unstable collagen and impaired enzyme activity; benefits beyond scurvy are less certain.
A water-soluble vitamin found in many fruits and vegetables that supports collagen formation, enzyme activity, immune function, and antioxidant protection.
The ionized form of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that predominates at higher pH and is the biologically active form in many nutritional contexts.
The oxidized form of vitamin C that can be converted back to active vitamin C in biological systems.
A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency in which collagen becomes too unstable to function properly, leading to bleeding, skin lesions, and other systemic symptoms.
The maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects for most people, used to guide safe supplementation.
A commonly measured biomarker used to evaluate vitamin C status and detect hypovitaminosis or deficiency.
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