The role and effects of vitamin c

Vitamin C, is a polyhydroxy compound with the chemical formula C6H8O6. Its structure is similar to that of glucose, but the two adjacent enol hydroxyl groups at the 2nd and 3rd positions in the molecule are easily dissociated to release H+, so it has acidic properties and is also known as L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is highly reducible and can be easily oxidised to dehydrovitamin C. However, the reaction is reversible and ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid have the same physiological function, but if dehydroascorbic acid is further hydrolysed to produce diketoguluronic acid, the reaction is irreversible and the physiological effect is completely lost.

Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of antibodies and collagen, tissue repair (including certain redox effects), metabolism of phenylalanine, tyrosine and folic acid, utilization of iron and carbohydrates, synthesis of fats and proteins, maintenance of immune function, hydroxylation of 5-hydroxytryptamine, maintenance of vascular integrity and promotion of non-haemoglobin iron absorption, etc. Vitamin C also has antioxidant, anti-free radical and inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme formation. It also has antioxidant, anti-free radical and inhibits tyrosinase formation, thus achieving the effect of whitening and light spot.

In the body, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, used to reduce the oxidative stress caused by ascorbate peroxidase sch. Vitamin C is also required in many important biosynthetic processes.

Since most mammals rely on the liver to synthesise vitamin C, there is no deficiency; however, humans, primates, groundhogs and a few other animals cannot synthesise it themselves and must take it in through food, drugs, etc.

Vitamin C can exist in the body in both oxidized and reduced forms, so it can act as a hydrogen donor and a hydrogen acceptor, playing an important role in redox processes in the body.

Promotes antibody formation. High levels of vitamin C help reduce cystine in food proteins to cysteine, which in turn synthesizes antibodies.

Promotes the absorption of iron. Vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron by reducing trivalent iron, which is difficult to absorb, to divalent iron, which is easy to absorb. In addition, it also keeps the sulfhydryl groups of ferrous iron complexase and other enzymes active so that they can function effectively, making vitamin C an important adjunct in the treatment of anaemia.

Promotes the formation of tetrahydrofolate. Vitamin C can promote the reduction of folic acid to tetrahydrofolate and then act, so it is also effective in megaloblastic anaemia.

Maintains sulfhydrylase activity.

Detoxification. When the body is supplemented with large amounts of vitamin C, it can alleviate the toxic effects of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic on the body.

Cancer prevention. Many studies have proven that vitamin C can block the synthesis of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds and prevent cancer.

Scavenging free radicals. Vitamin C can scavenge free radicals such as super negative oxygen ions (O2-), hydroxyl radicals (OH-), organic radicals (R-) and organic peroxides (ROO-) in the body through the process of transforming into semi-dehydroascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid by supplying electrons step by step; to re-reduce tocopherol radicals to tocopherols, and the reaction-generated ascorbic acid radicals can in turn be reduced to ascorbic acid under certain conditions by the system of NADH2 enzymatically reduced to ascorbic acid.