Vitamin C Supplements - Benefits and Uses

Vitamin C supplements contain ascorbic acid, a water-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant in the body. They are commonly used to support the immune system, promote skin health, and aid in wound healing.
Category
Supplement
Where to get
Available in health food stores, pharmacies, and online retailers.
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

vitamin C supplements FAQ


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Why do people take vitamin C supplements?

One of the main reasons people take vitamin C supplements is to boost their immunity, as vitamin C is involved in many parts of the immune system. First, vitamin C helps encourage the production of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infection ( 21 ).

How much vitamin C is in a vitamin C supplement?

Please note that this supplement does contain 500 milligrams of vitamin C, which is more than 5 times the RDA. While this is well below the UL (or max recommended dose), if you’re taking any other supplements and eating food that contains vitamin C, make sure that you are not exceeding 2,000 milligrams.

What are the best vitamin C supplements?

Keep reading for our picks of the 11 best vitamin C supplements. Best chewable with extra antioxidants: Nature’s Bounty Vitamin C with Rose Hips Best liquid vitamin C supplement: Pure Encapsulations Liposomal Vitamin C Liquid Best vitamin C powders: Swanson Vitamin C Powder and Bulk Supplements Vitamin C Powder

Is vitamin C a good supplement?

Additionally, a systematic review found that vitamin C supplementation was effective in lowering blood pressure in people with hypertension ( 5 ). Preliminary research also suggests that vitamin C has anticancer properties and that a high dose supplement could potentially be used as an alternative treatment in people with cancer ( 6, 7, 8 ).

Do supplements contain vitamin C?

Supplements typically contain vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid, which has equivalent bioavailability to that of naturally occurring ascorbic acid in foods, such as orange juice and broccoli [ 14-16 ].

Is vitamin C a nutrient?

Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient. That means your body doesn't make it, so you have to get it through diet or supplements. Vitamin C is in many foods, such as oranges, red and green peppers, and kiwi. Research shows vitamin C has many general health benefits.

vitamin C supplements References

If you want to know more about vitamin C supplements, consider exploring links below:

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