The Importance of Vitamin C

When you think about a powerful antioxidant, what comes to mind first? For most of us, it's vitamin C. It’s often the first thing we reach for when we feel a little sluggish or in need of an immune boost – and with good reason. The list of benefits for vitamin C are impressive and numerous. We delve deeper into just how this all-star antioxidant makes an impact on our health.

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, meaning we must get it from outside sources like food or supplements since we can’t make it in our bodies. It is involved in creating collagen, wound healing, stimulating the immune system, blood vessel health, hormone synthesis and so many other vital life functions. Several vitamins and minerals cannot be absorbed properly without vitamin C including iron, vitamin B-6 and others from the B-complex family. Serotonin, a key neurotransmitter of the brain relies on vitamin C and the amino acid tryptophan for its production. Even our cholesterol can be affected by vitamin C. Our bodies cannot turn cholesterol into bile acids without enough vitamin C. Having inadequate vitamin C in the body may lead to higher cholesterol levels.*

Vitamin C’s immune-supporting benefits are well documented,* but just how does this antioxidant rev up our immune system to fight off those nasty bugs? There’s still much to learn about how vitamin C and our immune system interact, but research shows one possible method in which it promotes immune health.* Our T cells are one of the defenses our immune system uses to keep us healthy. One study demonstrated that vitamin C helps prolong T cell viability or lifespan by blocking a chemical pathway that leads to T cell death.* Our immune system’s T cells are created and replaced by the body all the time, however, the longer your T cells can stay alive, the better it is for your immune system.

Vitamin C is chemically known as ascorbic acid, but it also comes in many other forms. Mineral buffered vitamin C supplements such as sodium ascorbate or calcium ascorbate are less acidic than ascorbic acid, so they may be better tolerated by those with stomach sensitivities.

Liposomal vitamin C is a form of vitamin that is wrapped in lipids or fat. Liposomal vitamin C formulas are easily absorbed in the GI tract because this fatty layer is similar to the structure of cells.* Nature's Lab Liposomal PureWay-C® Vitamin C uses sunflower lecithin to encapsulate ascorbic acid (vitamin C). In addition to the enhanced bioavailability, the lipid layer is tantamount to a protective shell between our stomach acid and the vitamin C, producing less chance of stomach upset.* Some studies show that liposomal vitamin C has better retention in the body than other forms of vitamin C.*

Research suggests that absorption of vitamin C may be improved with the incorporation of bioflavonoids, particularly the kind found in citrus fruits. Vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids work harmoniously together to support blood vessel integrity– promoting healthy veins, capillaries and overall circulation.* Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are the dynamic duo of blood vessel health. Since vitamin C helps create and maintain collagen it supports the actual blood vessel structure. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids both promote healthy circulation by discouraging blood platelets from sticking together and clumping.* You can find this superhero-worthy combination in Nature's Lab Super Vitamin C. It uses gentle on the stomach vitamin C in the form of calcium ascorbate along with quercetin and bioflavonoids for magnified antioxidant activity.*

Why Supplement with Vitamin C? Supplementing with vitamin C can be helpful since it is a water-soluble vitamin that is not stored very well in the body. Certain lifestyle factors can deplete vitamin C more quickly. Smoking, drinking alcohol, air pollution and high stress can cause our bodies to use up vitamin C at a faster rate.* If you want to stay looking youthful, a vitamin C supplement can help your skin maintain its collagen. Nature's Lab Vitamin C 1000 mg provides a generous dose of vitamin C in a single vegetarian capsule. Our Vitamin C Collection has options to suit your specific needs including multivitamin formulas, liposomal vitamin C and vitamin C with bioflavonoids.

References

Pagani, A., Nai, A., Silvestri, L., Camaschella, C. (2019, October 9). Hepcidin and anemia: A tight relationship. Frontiers. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.01294/full 

Chambial, S., Dwivedi, S., Shukla, K. K., John, P. J., Sharma, P. (2013, October). Vitamin C in disease prevention and cure: An overview. Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3783921/ 

Vitamin C. The Nutrition Source. (2021, May 27). Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-c/ 

Carr, A. C., Vissers, M. C. M. (2013, October 28). Synthetic or food-derived vitamin C--are they equally bioavailable? Nutrients. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3847730/