Vitamin C is one of the water soluble vitamins. Since they are usually eliminated in the urine when taken in excess, they are not usually associated with toxicity. Vitamin C is also stored in the liver. It is interesting that most animals produce their own vitamin C, but man, primates, and guinea pigs do not have this ability.
What is
the importance of vitamin C?
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Vitamin C is vital in the production of collagen and helps to protect
the fat-soluble vitamins A and E as well as fatty acids from oxidation. Collagen
is a substance that is the most abundant of the fibers contained in the
connective tissue, which gives our body form and supports our organs. A
complex series of events occurs inside and outside the cells when collagen is
produced. Vitamin C is essential to cellular activity by adding oxygen and
hydrogen (hydroxylating) to two amino acids: proline and lysine, forming a
precusor molecule called procollagen, which is then modified into collagen
outside the cell.
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What
diseases are caused by vitamin C deficiency?
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Vitamin C is one of the most beneficial of vitamins. It prevents and
cures the disease scurvy, which cause muscle degeneration, wounds that wont
heal, excessive bruising, bleeding of the gums, loose teeth, joint pain, and
numerous other problems. Scurvy was described as early as 1500 BC in Greek
and Roman writings. A British report in 1600 indicated that in the previous
20 years some 10,000 mariners had been destroyed by the disease. In 1747 as
the HMS Salisbury sailed from England to the Plymouth Colony, the ship's
physician, James Lind, performed a simple experiment to determine what might
be effective as a cure for scurvy. Lind divided his 12 ill men into six
groups of two each. All 12 shared a common diet for breakfast, lunch and
dinner but each group received a different supplement as follows:
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The two men who ate the oranges and lemon recovered immediately. One
was fit for duty in six days and the other was also well in six days and was appointed
as nurse to all the others. The two men who drank apple cider improved but
were not well enough to work. None of the others showed any improvement.
The British Navy adopted his remedy and British sailors have been nicknamed
"Limeys" ever since, because they took limejuice on long sea
voyages to ward off Scurvy. Vitamin C can also be helpful in the treatment of
iron deficiency anemia.
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Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, and
grapefruit, and vegetables including tomatoes, green pepper, potatoes and
many others. Optimum amounts of vitamin C are best derived from fruits and
vegetables that havent been overcooked. Too much processing and heat
significantly diminishes the quality and quantity of vitamin C.
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Although vitamin C is absolutely essential for human health, there are
possible negative side effects if taken in excess.
They are: the toxic
release of inorganic iron which is potentially fatal, formation of oxalate
kidney stones, diarrhea, teeth enamel damage if chewed, and heart arrhythmia.
Source : Star Health
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