Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a micronutrient that has several essential functions in the body, including collagen formation, intestinal iron absorption, norepinephrine synthesis and conversion of cholesterol into bile acids. In addition, it also has an antioxidant action, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals and acting on regulating metabolism and the formation of blood cells.
The main disease associated with vitamin C deficiency is scurvy, which has symptoms after 4 to 6 months of vitamin deficiency, resulting in certain signs and symptoms such as skin bruising. Childhood scurvy is also known as Moeller-Barlow disease and is also characterized by significant bone deformities, stunting and heart changes.
Vitamin C deficiency can cause some signs and symptoms such as
In addition, if the deficiency is not identified and treated, there may be other symptoms such as excessive fatigue and lethargy.
Vitamin C is absorbed into the gut and its main source is food, so the lack of this vitamin occurs when the diet is insufficient or when absorption by the gut is not adequate. Thus, some of the main risk factors are malnutrition, anorexia, smoking, alcoholism, intestinal diseases and inflammation, such as Crohn’s disease, for example. In addition, during pregnancy and lactation, there is a greater need for this vitamin.
Vitamin C deficiency can also occur in people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic or acute inflammatory diseases, people in the postoperative intestinal tract or severe burns.
Diarrhoea can also increase the faecal loss of this vitamin, as well as aclorhydria, which is a condition in which stomach acid is not produced, which decreases the amount of vitamin absorbed.
Vitamin C is found mainly in fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple, steel, orange, lemon and peppers, for example, and the presence of these foods in the diet is important to meet daily needs. See the full list of dietary sources of vitamin C.
The amount of vitamin C to be consumed daily is about 75 mg a day for women and 90 mg daily for men aged 19 years and older.
However, some people may need larger amounts, such as pregnant women, smokers, and people who use certain medications that can interfere with the absorption of this vitamin, such as contraceptives, antidepressants, and diuretics. In the case of infants, children and adolescents the amount is less and it is recommended to consult the doctor or nutritionist to adjust the vitamin replacement in these cases.
Vitamin C can be phased out by urine, its consumption should be daily, and if the amount needed with food is not reached, it is also possible to consume vitamin C supplements, which should be advised by a nutritionist. so that it is not done in need or in excess.