What Does Vitamin C Do?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid. Humans are unable to synthesize vitamin C; therefore, it must be obtained from supplements or a balanced diet. Vitamin C plays a key role in many functions in your body.

Some of these functions, according to the website Vitamincfoundation.org, are as follows:

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Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone.
Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters are critical to brain function and are known to affect mood.
The synthesis of carnitine requires vitamin C. Carnitine is a small molecule that transports cellular organelles called mitochondria, for conversion to energy.
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, preventing the degradation of substances in the body, and as a detoxifier reducing the toxicity of medications and chemicals.
Other antioxidants such as vitamin E may also be regenerated from vitamin C.
Vitamin C helps your immune system. It helps you heal from scrapes and bruises.

A severe vitamin C deficiency will result in the disease called scurvy. The symptoms are diarrhea, fever and irritability, spots on the skin, bleeding gums, paleness, weakness and sunken eyes. When you do not consume enough vitamin C similar symptoms will appear like swollen gums, wounds that don’t heal, easy bruising, and bleeding gums.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) average for a nonsmoking person should be around 60mg of vitamin C per day. This can be found in 3/4 cup of orange juice. People who smoke need more vitamin C than others. Their requirement is 100 mg per day. Too much vitamin C is not harmful, since this vitamin is water-soluble and any excess will be excreted in your urine.

Foods that are high in vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and even potatoes.