The Versatile Antioxidant Vitamin

Slice an apple into half, and it also turns brown. A copper penny suddenly becomes green, or an iron nail when left outside, will rust. Exactly what can these events have in common? These are generally examples of the process called oxidation. When the sliced apple is dipped inside a lemon juice, however, the speed of which the apple turns brown is slowed. It is certainly because the Vitamin C inside the lemon juice slows the speed of oxidative damage.

Since its discovery 65 years back, vitamin C has arrived at be referred to as a “wonder worker. ” Due to its role in collagen formation along with other life-sustaining functions, Vitamin C serves like a key defense mechanisms nutrient and also a potent free-radical fighter. This double-duty nutrient is shown to avoid many illnesses, from everyday ailments such like the common cold to devastating diseases for example cancer.

The water-soluble vitamin C is known inside the scientific world as ascorbic acid, a term that actually means “without scurvy. ” We depend upon ascorbic acid for several aspects in our biochemical functioning ; yet mortals are among only a couple of animal species that cannot produce their very own supply of vitamin C. Like these other animals, including primates and guinea pigs, we do not have choice but to get this nutrient through food or our daily diet.

Vitamin C can enhance the body's resistance from different diseases, including infections and certain kinds of cancer. It strengthens and protects the defense mechanisms by stimulating the activity of antibodies and defense mechanisms cells for example phagocytes and neutrophils.

Vitamin C, being an antioxidant, helps decrease the activity of free radicals. Free radicals are by-products of normal metabolism which could damage cells and set the stage for aging, degeneration, and cancer. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that vitamin C has been employed for cancer treatment. In large doses, Vitamin C is usually administered intravenously included in cancer treatment.



Vitamin C prevents free radical damage inside the lungs and might help to guard the central nervous system from such damage. Free radicals are molecules by having an unpaired electron. During this state, they are highly reactive and destructive to everything that gets with their way. Although free radicals happen to be implicated in several diseases, they‘re actually a section of the body chemistry.

Being an antioxidant, vitamin C's primary role usually is to neutralize free radicals. Since ascorbic acid is water soluble, it may work both inside and outside the cells to combat free radical damage. Vitamin C is definitely an excellent supply of electrons ; therefore, it “can donate electrons to free radicals for example hydroxyl and superoxide radicals and quench their reactivity. ”


The versatile vitamin C also works together with glutathione peroxidase (a significant free radical-fighting enzyme ) to revitalize vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant. Along with its are a direct scavenger of free radicals in fluids, then, vitamin C also contributes towards the antioxidant activity inside the lipids.

Optimal health, however, requires a balance between free radical generation and antioxidant protection. Perhaps one of the functions of Vitamin C is to buy and quench these free radicals before they create an excessive amount damage.

However, There‘s research showing that vitamin C may become a pro-oxidant. Basically, vitamin C, under certain conditions anyway, may act inside a manner that‘s opposite to its intended purpose. This has raised concern among thousands of people that supplement their diets with vitamin C... but that is another story.