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Get complete, unbiased, scientific information on VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), including Safety Ratings,
Effectiveness Ratings, Interaction Ratings, Lists of Ingredients and Adverse
Reactions... all from Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database | | |  |  | | |
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| Also Known As: |
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Antiscorbutic Vitamin, Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Calcium Ascorbate, Cevitamic Acid, Iso-Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbate, Selenium Ascorbate, Sodium Ascorbate.
CAUTION: See separate listings for Acerola, Cherokee Rosehip, and Rose Hip. |
| Scientific Name: |
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| Ascorbic acid. |
| People Use This For: |
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Natural medicines are often tried for many conditions based on tradition, anecdotes, or
marketing, but not all of these uses are supported by reliable or credible scientific
research. Below is a list of some common uses for VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID).
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Orally, vitamin C is used for preventing and treating scurvy; preventing deficiency in people with gastrointestinal diseases and those on chronic total parenteral nutrition or chronic hemodialysis; increasing iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract; and increasing the healing rate of wounds, burns, fractures, ulcers, and pressure sores. It is used for urine acidification, treating idiopathic methemoglobinemia, correcting tyrosinemia in premature infants on high-protein diets, increasing iron excretion (in combination with deferoxamine), preventing and treating the common cold and other viral infections, bronchitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, tuberculosis, dysentery, furunculosis, hematuria, retinal hemorrhages, hemorrhagic states, and anemia. Vitamin C is also used orally for atherosclerosis, preventing vascular thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, lowering cholesterol, glaucoma, preventing cataracts, preventing gallbladder disease, dental caries, pyorrhea, gum infections, constipation, peptic ulcer, acne, dermatitis, improving immune function, swine flu, allergic rhinitis (hayfever), asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, cystitis, prostatitis, infertility, and diabetes. It is also used orally for mental depression, cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, physical and mental stress, fatigue, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), autism, collagen disorders, arthritis and bursitis, back pain and disc inflammation, cancer, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteoporosis, and gout. Other uses include improving physical endurance, Lyme disease, reducing aging, heat prostration, for counteracting the side effects of cortisone and related drugs, aiding drug withdrawal in addiction, and in the treatment of levodopa, succinylcholine, interferon, aspirin, and arsenic toxicity. Other uses include use as an adjunct to radiation therapy and treating chronic radiation proctitis. It is also used to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission to breast-fed babies.
Topically, vitamin C is used for improving skin conditions, protecting against free radicals and pollutants, and for improving photo-aged skin. It is also applied topically for ulcerative mucositis associated with radiation therapy.
Parenterally, vitamin C is used for preventing and treating vitamin C deficiency and correcting tyrosinemia in premature infants on high-protein diets.
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| Get reliable information about potential safety concerns from scientific Safety Rating. See if there are warnings against use during Pregnancy, Breast Feeding, or for Children. |
| Effectiveness: |
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| Get scientific Effectiveness Rating and see if VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) works before selecting it. |
| Mechanism of Action: |
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| Research the pharmacology, active constituents, and a clear scientific explanation about how the natural medicine is thought to work for its medicinal uses. |
| Adverse Reactions: |
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| Interactions with Herbs & Supplements: |
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| Find out if VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) is safe to take with other natural medicines or supplements or if there are potential interactions. |
| Interactions with Drugs: |
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| Find out what medications VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) interacts with and if the interactions are mild or potentially dangerous. |
Drug Influences on Nutrient Levels and Depletion:
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SOME DRUGS CAN AFFECT VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) LEVELS:
Get information on how drugs can affect nutrient levels and deplete VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID). |
| Interactions with Foods: |
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| Find out if particular foods should be avoided with VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), Ginkgo, or if certain foods can negatively affect the product. |
| Interactions with Lab Tests: |
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| Find out if VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) interferes with laboratory tests or could cause a diagnostic test to fail or be inaccurate. |
| Interactions with Diseases or Conditions: |
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| Dosage/Administration: |
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| Get reliable information on the best dose to use based on scientific research. Products only work if taken in the correct dose. Taking a dose that is too high can increase the chance of side effects and adverse outcomes. |
| Editor's Comments: |
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