Ascorbic acid for colds: to drink or not to drink?

As it turns out?

Vitamin C is synthesized by plants from the simple sugar galactose. Most mammals can produce it in the body from glucose. The exception is some higher primates, guinea pigs and several other species of animals. In humans, vitamin C is also not produced
, since during evolution the gene responsible for the synthesis of one of the enzymes that produces ascorbic acid disappeared.

Sources of ascorbic acid

If natural vitamins from vegetables and fruits are not enough in the diet, then the recommended daily dose can be obtained from almost any vitamin complex.

Ascorbic acid as a medicine

If there is a lack of vitamin in the body, it is recommended to replenish the supply with medications. Release form:

• dragee;
• pills;
• ampoules;
• powders.

The form of use is determined by the attending physician depending on the nature of the disease. The instructions for use warn of possible side effects if the drug dosage is incorrect.

Ascorbic acid dragees are prescribed to children because they resemble candy and not medicine. Effervescent tablets are popular among professional athletes. One tablet, diluted in a glass of water, replenishes vitamin reserves and invigorates before a grueling workout. The powder is available in sachets.

An injection solution is prepared in ampoules. One ampoule contains 50 mg and 100 mg, which allows you to administer the required dose of the drug at a time.

An overdose negatively affects the mucous membrane of the stomach and digestive tract as a whole. Pregnant women are at risk because the metabolism between the mother and fetus is disrupted. As a result, the child develops allergies, and the mother may develop problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Why is it needed?

The main function of vitamin C is to increase the body's resistance to infections and protect the walls of blood vessels from damage. Ascorbic acid is involved in the synthesis of collagen
, the main building material of connective tissue.
In addition, ascorbic acid helps in the absorption
of other important vitamins, minerals and nutrients: folic acid, vitamin E, iron, proteins and carbohydrates.
Vitamin C is involved in the functioning of the hormonal system. It is necessary, for example, for the synthesis of adrenal hormones - corticosteroids
.
It also helps the immune system work - it stimulates the synthesis of interferons
- proteins that fight viruses in the body. It is also considered a strong antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals. – “molecular fragments” that destroy cells.

The concept of ascorbic acid

The chemical formula of ascorbic acid is C6H8O6. The powder is no different from other vitamins: it is soluble in water, resistant to fat, has a sour taste, but is odorless. If stored improperly, it disintegrates and resembles a powder in its structure.

At what temperature is vitamin C destroyed? The destructive process begins at 60 degrees, and breaks down into particles at 100 degrees.

Chemists have proven that vitamin molecules are similar in composition to crystalline sugar, but there are still significant differences. Artificially synthesized vitamin C appeared in the food industry, which immediately became a popular food additive under the number E315. It does not have the same beneficial properties as the original, although it is much cheaper.

How many do you need?

The average requirement of an adult for vitamin C is about 90 mg per day. In pregnant and lactating women it is slightly higher - up to 120 mg. And children require less ascorbic acid - from 30 mg, and infants receive their portion through breast milk. A popular theory is that the human body’s need for vitamin C is very high. However, taking large doses of ascorbic acid only speeds up its removal from the body. Suggestions that significant doses of vitamin C help fight colds and cancer have not been confirmed. But an overdose
of ascorbic acid can cause digestive upset and skin reactions.
The maximum permissible daily dose
of vitamin C is 2000 mg.

Application in cosmetology

Ascorbic acid, as an antioxidant, is included in anti-aging cosmetics for women. Products based on vitamin C prevent the effects of free radicals on the skin of the face, which is why it is used in the manufacture of anti-aging creams.

The presence of a vitamin in the list of cosmetic ingredients does not guarantee quality, since the amount of the element used is not always enough to produce an effect. The optimal dose in cosmetology ranges from 0.3% to 10%. Professional preparations on the labels contain information about the amount of active substance and the percentage of components.

Due to the sensitivity of the vitamin to light and air, cosmetics based on it are produced in sealed, tinted packaging with a dispenser.

Vitamin C-based facial cosmetics perform the following functions:

• protect the skin from exposure to infrared rays;
• synthesize collagen;
• restore collagen fibers;
• slow down the aging process;
• increase skin tone;
• prevent the appearance of age spots;
• relieve inflammation;
• refresh and improve complexion;
• strengthen vascular walls.

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In winter, to replenish vitamin C reserves, it is necessary to take vitamin and mineral complexes for the skin.

Ascorbic acid is useful for hair; it gives hair shine and silkiness. Liquid vitamin C in ampoules is added to ordinary shampoo or hair conditioner. Nutrition along the entire length is provided during each wash.

What if it's not enough?

A severe deficiency of vitamin C causes scurvy
: fragility of blood vessels, the appearance of hemorrhages under the skin, bleeding gums and tooth loss.
But if there is simply not enough of it in the body, the symptoms of hypovitaminosis are not very clear, and people often attribute them to the consequences of stress or fatigue. With a lack of ascorbic acid, the skin becomes dull and dry due to insufficient collagen synthesis. Even minor injuries cause severe hemorrhages and bleeding due to increased permeability of the vascular walls. Hair becomes dull and begins to fall out, nails break. The person becomes lethargic and gets tired quickly
.

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Often these symptoms appear in those who follow strict diets - especially those in which the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits is sharply limited.

Signs of vitamin C deficiency

Vitamin C deficiency is common and its symptoms are familiar to many people. Among the signs of hypovitaminosis C, there may be such phenomena as a tendency to bleeding gums, easy formation of bruises on the body, frequent incidence of colds, a predisposition to exacerbations of existing chronic diseases, slow healing of injuries and delayed recovery, discomfort in the joints, problematic skin, hair loss, nosebleeds etc.

With a critical deficiency of the vitamin, a disease known as scurvy develops. It is rare in the modern world, but used to be extremely common. Patients experienced frequent bleeding, teeth falling out, and serious damage to joints and bones.

What prevents it from being absorbed?

The destruction of ascorbic acid provokes the use of nicotine and alcohol. Thus, according to some data, each cigarette smoked
deprives the body of about 25 mg of vitamin C.
Sweet soda
- due to the content of soda that destroys ascorbic acid.
Vitamin C present in products is partially destroyed by prolonged exposure to light, high temperature, as well as during long-term storage and transportation. That is why, in order to obtain its full amount, it is recommended to eat vegetables and fruits fresh or having undergone only minimal heat treatment. And try to choose fruits that grew close to the place where they are sold. The long journey across continents and oceans deprives them of almost the entire dose of ascorbic acid. in frozen vegetables and fruits
than in their fresh travel relatives.

Foods Rich in Vitamin C

Vitamin C is found in plant foods - vegetables, fruits, berries. It has always been believed that the highest dosages of vitamin C are found in citrus fruits, and the more acidic the citrus, the more “ascorbic acid” it contains. This is completely wrong!

Firstly, a sour lemon contains one and a half times less vitamin than a sweet orange, and secondly, both fruits contain little of it - about the same amount as apples. There is much more vitamin in dill, walnuts, rose hips, and sea buckthorn. They should be used intensively for viral diseases, instead of endlessly drinking tea with lemon.

How is it useful?

Any vitamin is an extremely useful substance for the human body. Only each vitamin has its own role. Everyone knows that vitamin C is necessary for immunity - it has a general strengthening and preventive effect against colds and ARVI. But what else does it do and what does it affect?

Of course, the role of vitamin C in the human body is not limited to this effect alone. The benefits it brings are incredibly great. It is hardly possible to list all its beneficial properties. But it is worth noting that the effect that ascorbic acid has on the entire body is very versatile.

Controls the following processes in the body:

• immune response and immunobiological reactions;
• condition of the vascular wall;
• stress resistance of the body as a whole and the stability of the neuropsychic reaction separately;
• blood pressure and cholesterol levels;
• blood clotting, liver glycogen reserves;
• allergic reactions;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• protection of the oral cavity, in particular the gums, as connective tissue;
• lipid metabolism;
• cleanliness and smoothness of the skin;
• healing of wounds and fractures;
• hair condition;
• visual functions;
• cognitive functions;
• quality of sleep, etc.

Expert opinion

Despite the impressive list of beneficial properties, ascorbic acid can cause some harm to health. We are talking about its excessive consumption, consumption on an empty stomach (can cause irritation of the gastric mucosa), in the presence of gastritis, gastric ulcer. “Everything is poison, everything is medicine, both are determined by the dose” Paracelsus.

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Osipova Ekaterina Yakovlevna

Ascorbic acid is important for the human body at any age, since it is not synthesized by it. What is vitamin C responsible for? And what does it help to cope with? At an early age, its deficiency can significantly affect the skeletal system. At a later stage, the consequences of the deficiency are more extensive, since the need for the vitamin only increases. After all, in addition to the stress during the work week and the busyness of everyday life, a person does not always lead a healthy lifestyle. And let’s say, if we consider smoking, it incredibly speeds up the process of vitamin breakdown. But first things first.

Let's start with the most important and most well-known to everyone - stimulation of immune activity. The immune system is a kind of line of defense against the harmful effects of infections, bacteria, one’s own cells that have lost their inherent characteristics, etc. In order for the body to be able to give an immune response, there must be an appropriate amount of immune antibodies. This is what vitamins are for. And that is why vitamin deficiency increases the incidence of disease, especially in the autumn-winter season. By taking medications, you can increase the bactericidal parameters of blood serum, stimulate the production of antibodies and the phagocytic activity of leukocytes, which is responsible for the level of resistance of the body to foreign microflora.

!

Vitamin C is one of the three most powerful absorbers of free radical aggression (oxidants) in the body from the entire existing vitamin complex.

Along with vitamins A and E, it improves a person’s overall well-being, in particular, it has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the internal organs of the human body. Vitamin C, being an important element of the antioxidant system, neutralizes toxins, increases the synthesis of interferon (Interferonum), stimulates the functioning of nerve cells, and promotes the removal of cholesterol plaques. Due to its antioxidant effect it is widely used:

• in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus (Diabetes mellītus);
• when reducing intraocular pressure, reducing the risk of developing cataracts;
• to normalize cellular metabolism;
• to reduce the growth of cancerous tumors;
• to prevent heart disease, with increased fragility of blood vessels (bruises appearing on the body for no reason), etc.

In some cases, vitamin C exhibits insufficient independent antioxidant activity, and without combination with minerals and other beneficial substances, it cannot fully protect the body from certain damaging factors. Thus, vitamin C, together with ginkgo biloba, an equally powerful antioxidant, has a beneficial effect on veins, strengthening their walls and on small capillaries, reducing their permeability. The tandem of useful substances improves microcirculation in the vascular bed, promotes the prevention and treatment of vascular diseases. Interacting, these two active components, along with the other ten, are part of the NORMAVEN® foot cream. Specialists from the pharmaceutical company VERTEX worked on the combination of active components. Clinical studies conducted at the State Health Care Institution “City Clinic No. 49”, in the antenatal clinic No. 12, proved the high effectiveness of the product. The effectiveness and safety of use during pregnancy has been clinically proven. Based on the results of testing the drug, no undesirable side effects were found. An improvement in the health of the limbs is observed after just a month of use; the maximum effect is achieved after a three-month course of use. Vitamin C cream provides the necessary daily foot care at home and has the necessary documents and quality certificates.

!

Vitamin C is actively involved in the production of collagen in the body; this role is the most studied.

Collagen is a protein filament that forms the basis of connective tissue, providing its elasticity and strength. Impaired collagen formation causes bleeding gums, poor wound healing, bone lesions, etc. Cartilage affected by arthritis and osteochondrosis loses about 90% of the daily value of nutrients, so it is in dire need of its rapid replenishment. Vitamin C eliminates not only inflammatory, but also age-related causes of bone fragility, promotes the treatment and prevention of joint diseases, having a positive effect on the musculoskeletal system.

Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin

Participation in the synthesis of collagen, as a property of vitamin C, is extremely valued in cosmetology, as it helps maintain the health of the skin, slow down the aging process and the formation of wrinkles. Vitamin C for facial skin is an effective, affordable product that gives youth to the skin of the neck and face:

• has a whitening effect - used to eliminate age spots;
• restores elasticity and firmness;
• protects against the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays;
• improves skin color;
• accelerates post-acne healing;
• eliminates dark circles under the eyes;
• increases the effectiveness of peelings.

There are a great many dosage forms in which ascorbic acid is produced. For cosmetic purposes, powder, tablets, and liquid vitamin C are used in injection solution. Today, anti-aging serum with vitamin C is widely used. It contains the maximum concentration of the vitamin, which allows it to be used in the fight against skin manifestations such as rosacea. Ascorbic acid is widely used in injection mesotherapy procedures. A small amount of active substance is injected into the superficial and middle layers of the dermis (usually vitamin C in combination with vitamin E into the skin. The procedure is quite effective, but has a certain range of contraindications. Less effective than injections, but also gives a positive result - the use of cream , which usually contains 3% ascorbic acid, protects the epidermis from adverse factors and removes toxins.

Expert opinion

Vitamin C controls blood cholesterol levels. Research methods have proven that when a high, clinically dangerous level of cholesterol is reached, the intake of ascorbic acid in the body helps to reduce it. Vitamin C also has an antiatherosclerotic effect. In combination with a bioflavonoid such as rutin, vitamin C strengthens blood vessels, fights varicose veins, and the pathology of hemorrhoidal veins, much more effectively. Many complexes of venotonic vitamins and plant extracts contain both of the above-mentioned active components. Their combination also prevents the process of destruction of a substance important for the cells of the vascular system - hyaluronic acid.

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Osipova Ekaterina Yakovlevna

Ascorbic acid can minimize the negative effects on the heart. It reduces blood viscosity, which prevents thrombus formation, and this has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle.

Vitamin C has a significant effect on liver function and promotes the restoration of its cells. Activates the pancreas. Ascorbic acid enhances the activity of respiratory enzymes in the liver and increases its potential to cleanse the body. A positive effect of vitamin C on the protein-forming function of the liver was also noted.

The body's regenerative resource increases significantly, skin ulcers and wounds heal faster when vitamins A and C enter the body. The scarring process accelerates, the regeneration period of skin areas affected by burns decreases, and the clinical course of burn disease improves due to the effect of vitamin C.

!

A significant role is played by fortifying the patient in case of cancer and its prevention.

In particular, this applies to tumor formations of the digestive tract, urinary and reproductive systems. A trio of vitamins A, E and C shows good results. From the point of view of evidence-based medicine, they are able to suppress the development of cancer cells with their antioxidant effect. The complex should be taken exclusively under the supervision of the attending physician. Since excess vitamin C, like any other, can affect the course of the tumor.

One of the remarkable properties of vitamin C is its ability to neutralize excessive stress on the psyche and increase stress resistance. Unfortunately, an active lifestyle, busy everyday life, and an abundance of tasks set for oneself do not pass without leaving a mark on the nervous system. At first, there may be a reluctance to eat, then a loss of strength will follow, and you will constantly feel a feeling of drowsiness, fatigue and loss of concentration. In such cases, vitamin C is also effective and will help cope with increased stress. This combination is especially beneficial for health - vitamin C and vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid (Nicotinicum acidum). This combination will actively participate in the synthesis of energy and increase vitality, regulate the process of excitation of the nervous system, relieve signs of fatigue, and protect against physical exhaustion.

Expert opinion

Vitamin C can influence blood quality indicators by protecting hemoglobin from the oxidative process. It also helps preserve iron, converting it into divalent iron, which is better absorbed. Accelerates the maturation of red blood cells.

Vascular surgeon, phlebologist

Osipova Ekaterina Yakovlevna

Ascorbic acid is also valued for its pronounced antitoxic effect against various toxic and harmful substances. Science has established that vitamin C has a neutralizing effect on tuberculosis, diphtheria, dysentery and other poisons of microbial origin. It also has a detoxifying effect on chemical and industrial poisons. Vitamin C forms protection that promotes the normal functioning of internal organs during various types of intoxication.

Vitamin C has a unique relationship with biologically active substances such as hormones. It is indispensable for their production, including increasing the synthesis of adrenaline, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, increases blood flow to muscles, etc.

Ascorbic acid gives a positive effect when used in complex therapy of shock conditions, having a positive effect in traumatic and anaphylactic shock.

The list of useful properties can be long enough. It is widely used in the practices of traditional and folk medicine. Treatment with vitamin C is prescribed both as part of complex therapy and using its healing properties as a single method of therapy. It is actively used in cosmetology and serves as an indispensable component of skin products.

History of discovery and physicochemical properties

Vitamin C is a water-soluble organic compound. You can often hear its other name - ascorbic acid (Acidum ascorbinicum). Is it so? Vitamin C is the biologically active L-isomer of ascorbic acid. The human body does not synthesize or accumulate this vitamin. Therefore, it has high biological value and should be present in the diet of any person every day.

!

The name comes from the Latin word “scorbutus” - scurvy.

The history of the discovery of this organic compound is associated with this disease. During the times of travelers Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Cook, when long voyages were made for the purpose of geographical discoveries, sailors were faced with a dangerous and fatal disease - scurvy. The reason for this was a lack of vitamin C (vitaminosis). The disease scurvy leads to disorders that cause pathologies of connective tissue, as a result of which it loses its strength. Symptoms of the disease are as follows: mobility of teeth, pain in the limbs, increased tendency to bleed, etc. At that time, there was no information about vitamin C, however, thanks to the observation of sailors in the life of Indian tribes, a solution was found. The salvation was a healing decoction - an aqueous extract of pine needles, which eliminated the lack of substances in the body.

Vitamin C

In the middle of the 18th century, in 1747, the chief physician of the naval hospital, a surgeon by training, James Lind conducted the first clinical study by experimenting on twenty sailors infected with scurvy. While searching for a cure for the disease, he added various foods to the diet of several groups of patients. It was possible to prevent the progression of the disease only in those sailors whose daily diet included citrus fruits - oranges and lemons. At that time, there was an opinion that scurvy was an infectious disease, so for quite a long time the results of the study and the scientific treatise “Treatment of Scurvy” by D. Lind were subject to severe criticism.

Participants of polar expeditions in Antarctica, on the continent of Antarctica and in the Southern Ocean also suffered from scurvy. In order to prevent the disease, members of three Russian Arctic expeditions G. L. Brusilova, G. Ya. Sedova and V. A. Rusanova used warm bear blood.

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Vitamin C was isolated in its pure form in the late 20s of the 20th century by the American biochemist and Nobel laureate Albert Szent-Györgyi von Neugyrapolt.

And after 5 years it was already proven that vitamin C is necessary for the body to prevent the development of scurvy. Since that time, a large number of experiments and scientific studies have been carried out in order to determine the exact clinical effectiveness of this L-isomer of ascorbic acid.

Vitamin C is a fine white crystalline powder with a specific sour taste and complete absence of odor. Chemical name according to the nomenclature system: 2,3-dehydro-L-gulonic acid gamma-lactone. Chemical formula – C6H8O6. All existing vitamins of group C have 4 spatial forms (stereoisomers) with completely similar chemical formulas. Description of physical properties: soluble in water, and less soluble in other liquids. The resulting solution is unstable and the vitamin C in it rapidly decomposes. Crystalline ascorbic acid in dry form is stable and can be stored for a long time. Characteristics: melting point – 190°C, boiling point – 553°C, molar mass – 176.12 g/mol, easily destroyed by light, heat treatment and smog.

Beneficial properties of vitamin C

Contraindications and side effects

Effervescent vitamin C should not be used for inflammatory and erosive diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

• peptic ulcer;
• gastritis, gastroduodenitis;
• pancreatitis;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• ulcerative colitis.

Caution is necessary in case of impaired renal function. Tablets containing sugar may be contraindicated in diabetes. The drug is in a dosage of 1000 mg. Not recommended for use by children under 18 years of age. Another contraindication: individual intolerance to the components.

During treatment with effervescent vitamin C, belching, nausea, heartburn, pain in the stomach, and increased gas formation are likely to occur. When consuming large doses, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, bloating, and diarrhea may occur. To eliminate discomfort, you should increase the volume of fluid you drink.

Effervescent tablets should not be combined with aspirin, other NSAIDs, or oral contraceptives. The effectiveness of ascorbic acid is also reduced when washed down with alkaline drinks and mineral water. Under the influence of the vitamin, the activity of the adrenal glands increases, so it is important to adjust the doses of glucocorticoid hormones taken, as well as control blood pressure.

Consultation with an endocrinologist is a vector for your internal balance!

Liberanskaya Natalya Sergeevna

— endocrinologist, doctor of the highest category with more than 10 years of experience. Natalya Sergeevna sees patients with a variety of problems and issues within her specialization - excess weight, diabetes, thyroid problems, increased fatigue and drowsiness, pregnancy, menopause, metabolic disorders and endocrine glands.

Natalya Sergeevna is the author of the popular blog @doctor_liberanskaya, in which she regularly gives subscribers advice on maintaining health and therapy. All recommendations are based on the principles of evidence-based medicine and our own professional experience.

From 2021, Doctor Liberanskaya Natalya Sergeevna

accepts patients at the Pirogov Clinic - you can also undergo a consultation with an endocrinologist of the highest category.
To make the appointment informative and useful for you, we recommend taking the following tests:

• List of endocrinological tests

You can undergo the examination quickly, without queues and at a time convenient for you in our clinic.
Thanks to the latest diagnostic equipment and a team of qualified specialists from the laboratory of the Pirogov Clinic, you can be confident in objective and reliable results.

References

1. Kodentsova, V.M., Namazova-Baranova, L.S., Makarova S.G. National program to optimize the provision of vitamins and minerals to Russian children. Brief overview of the document. Pediatric pharmacology, 2021. - T. 14 (6). — pp. 478–493.
2. Sokolova, N.G. Pediatrician's Handbook. - M.: Astrel, 2013. - 480 p.
3. Shikh, E.V., Makhova, A.A. Possibilities of regulating cognitive function in children using vitamin-mineral complexes, 2012. - No. 24. - P. 1188.
4. Chambial, S., Dwivedi, S. Shukla, K. et al. Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview, 2013. - Vol. 28(4). P. 314–328.