Vitamin C ascorbic acid is a micronutrient that performs several essential functions in the body, participating in: collagen formation, absorption of hierarchy at the intestinal level, synthesis of norepinephrine and conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, in addition, possesses a powerful antioxidant action, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals and acting on the pathways that regulate the metabolism of the body and the formation of blood cells.
The main disease caused by vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy, this disease develops after 4 to 6 months of lack of this vitamin, causing the appearance of certain signs and symptoms such as red spots (petechiae) that live on the skin. it is called Moeller-Barlow disease and is characterized by bone deformity, stunted growth and cardiac changes.
Vitamin C deficiency can cause signs and symptoms such as
Fatigue, paleness and darkening due to anemia caused by the recent absorption of hierarchy;
Difficulty curing scarves due to collagen deficiency;
Bleeding, mainly from the encyclopedia, in the eyes and nose, can occur anywhere in the body, due to rupture of the tissues that support the blood vessels;
Bruises on the body and appearance of petechiae, red spots on the skin as a result of the fragility of the hair of blood vessels;
Bone deformities and increased risk of fracture, especially in children, by altering the process of calcification and human formation;
Hair loss and weakness of nails, cartilage and joints;
Bone pain and swelling of the body;
Teeth lost and weakened due to changes in the formation of dentin, which is the matrix of the teeth;
Increased risk of infections such as colds and flu, due to lack of vitamin C, damaging the formation of white blood cells and altering various immune system functions;
Sadness, mental stress, hysteria, depression and/or reasoning difficulty, the lack of this vitamin can produce chemical changes in the brain.
In addition, if disability persists, other late symptoms such as fatigue and lethargy may appear.
Vitamin C is absorbed into the gut and its main source of nutrition, therefore, deficiency of this vitamin occurs when the diet is insufficient or absorption by the intestine is not adequate, so some of the main risk factors are: malnutrition, anorexia, smoking, alcoholism, acute or chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease For example. In addition, during lactation and lactation, the need for this vitamin increases.
Similarly, vitamin C deficiency may also be present in people with gastrointestinal tract diseases, chronic or acute inflammatory diseases, people in postoperative bowel periods, who may have severe burns.
Diarrhoea can also increase the fecal loss of this vitamin, as well as aclorhydria, which is a condition in which stomach acid is not produced, which decreases the amount absorbed.
Vitamin C is found mainly in fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple, acerela (in addition to cerecite), orange, lemon and pepper, for example, and the presence of food in the diet is important to meet daily needs. See the full list of foods rich in vitamin C.
The amount of vitamin C to be consumed per day is 75 mg a day for women and 90 mg per day for men from the age of 19.
However, some people may need higher levels of singing, such as embarrassed women, smokers, and people who use certain medications that can affect the absorption of this vitamin, such as taking contraceptives, antidepressants, and diuretics and; For infants, children and adolescents in the smaller area, it is therefore recommended to consult your doctor or nutritionist to adjust the replacement of this vitamin in these situations.
Since vitamin C can be slowly removed by urine, your intake should be daily and if you do not need to consume the food, it is possible to take vitamin C supplements.