The identification of vitamin c, an historical summary oxford. Vitamin c has been the subject offrequent controversy, even before its nature had been established. Low levels of plasma vitamin c are associated with stroke and with an increased risk of all cause mortality. In 1747, james lind conducted a trial of six different treatments for 12 sailors. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of vitamin c see table 2. History of vitamin c and its role in the prevention and cure of scurvy. Charles malerich natural sciences, baruch college new york, ny 10010 introductionvitamin c is a watersoluble vitamin that is that is needed daily the minimum daily requirement for an adult is about 60 mg. We have lost the gene upon which the final transformation to vitamin c ascorbic acid depends.
Vit c increased enteric absorption normally low of fe not only nonhemefe as well as hemefe. Vitamin c is an essential cofactor for mixedoxidase enzymes which catalyze the production of many proteins such as those involved in building supporting tissue in the body. Serum vitamin c levels were examined in relation to the history of kidney stones in over 10,000 subjects, and no evidence was found to indicate that high vitamin c levels increased the prevalence of kidney stones. Vitamin c tips for getting more vitamin c from foods vitamin c breaks down in food over time. Albert szentgyorgyi vitamin c american chemical society. Some vitamin c is lost when a food is exposed to air or heat or cooked in water. Vitamin c is a watersoluble vitamin which means that it cannot be stored in the body and is excreted out of the body when there is excess vitamin c in the body. Other sources include fruits and vegetables like strawberries, pineapple, raspberries, green and red bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach and broccoli. It can decrease the risk for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, cataracts, and gout. Vitamin c is present in the lungs airway surfaces, and insufficient vitamin c levels have been associated with bronchial constriction and reduced lung function. The following table lists recommended daily intakes of vitamin c. Niki demonstrates the regeneration of vitamin e by vitamin c in model reactions.
Its role as a constituent of fruits and vegetables in the cure and prevention ofscurvy was widely debated for hundreds of years. Three large strawberries provide 33 milligrams of vitamin c. You can get enough vitamin c by eating a variety of foods including citrus fruits such as. Packer and coworkers observe the free radical interaction of vitamin e and vitamin c. It plays an important role in bone formation, wound healing and the maintenance of healthy gums. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 322k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page.
Vitamin function food sources symptom of deficiency excess. Vast majority of people alive today have almost no idea. Vitamin c is an essential dietary nutrient for the biosynthesis of collagen and a cofactor in the biosynthesis of catecholamines, lcarnitine, cholesterol, amino acids, and some peptide hormones. C, the ascorbate ion, or simply ascorbic acid, is the real vitamin c. Vitamin c is one of the safest and most effective nutrients, experts say. Vitamin c has a lowering effect on blood pressure, especially on systolic pressure more than a diastolic pressure. Vitamin c, also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate, is a vitamin found in various foods and. Pdf biological significance of ascorbic acid vitamin c in human. Blanching foods quickly and then freezing them can preserve the vitamin for a longer time.
The recognition of vitamin c is associated with a history of an unrelenting search for the cause of the ancient haemorrhagic disease scurvy. This fascinating story in the history of science and medicine will be of interest to the historian, scientist and the general reader. Vitamin c can help to strengthen the immune system and prevent colds and flu. Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version.
In the light of the recent developments and research in the use of vitamin c, it is essential that the roots of. Scurvy has been a scourge for thousands of years, or as soon as mankind began to depend on food sources deficient in vitamin c. Vitamin d promotes calcium absorption in the gut and enable bone mineralization in 1922, edward mellanby discovered vitamin d while researching a disease called rickets. Frei cautions that we dont have a clear understanding about how vitamin c behaves in the skin. Citrus fruits, tomatoes and tomato juice, and potatoes are major contributors of vitamin c to the american diet. In 1935, vitamin c became the first vitamin to be artificially synthesized. Vit c increase the bioavailability of fe in foods b. Pdf the recognition of vitamin c ascorbic acid is associated with history of an unrelenting search for the cause of the ancient hemorrhagic disease. I was astonished to find the following statement, following nih, from the pauling institute, vitamin c reaches a steadystate concentration 60 to 80 micromolesl at doses of 200 to 400 mgday in. In the nurses health study, premenopausal women with a family history of breast cancer who consumed an average of 205 mgday of vitamin c from food had a. A diet lacking in vitamin c leads to the development of a disease known as scurvy. Fortunately, many of the best food sources of vitamin c, such as fruits and vegetables, are usually eaten raw.
Other good food sources include red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe see table 2 8,12. History of vitamin c encyclopedia article citizendium. If the oral dose results in the same plasma level as an equivalent intravenous dose, then the bioavailability is said to be complete. The worldwide requirement for vitamin c is estimated at 30,00035,000 tons per year. Sailors scurvy before and after james linda reassessment pdf. Vitamin c enables the body to efficiently use carbohydrates, fats, and protein. The author also examines the modern claims for the use of very high levels of vitamin c to bring about a state of superhealth, and he analyses the most important evidence for and against this practice. Scurvy was a common problem in the worlds navies and is estimated to have affected 2 million sailors. Vitamin c might lower your risk of melanoma, suggests an observational study in the international journal for vitamin and nutrition research. We understand that vital amines, trace minerals, amino and fatty acids, hormones. Vitamin c, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin commonly found in citrus fruits such as lemons, grapefruits and oranges.
Learn to identify the symptoms of vitamin c deficiency and how to supplement this one of a kind vitamin. Vitamin c fact sheet for consumers office of dietary. Vitamin c introduction to vitamin c introduction to vitamin c. Vitamin c ascorbic acid vitamin c plays an essential role in the functionality of the body. The diagnosis of scurvy is primarily a clinical one, based on a dietary history of inadequate vitamin c intake and the signs and symptoms described here. Pdf the recognition of vitamin c is associated with a history of an unrelenting search for the cause of the ancient haemorrhagic disease scurvy find, read. Vitamin c is an antioxidant, which helps protect the cells of our body from damage. Vitamin c is a critical component of both disease prevention and of basic body building processes. The real story reminds us that a hundred years after the discovery of vitamin c, mankind is still researching vitamin biochemistry and developing medical applications. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in practitioners to. Research continues to document the degree of these effects.
Vitamin c is present in the lungs airway surfaces, and insufficient vitamin c levels have been associated. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 322k, or click on a page image below. It may not be the cure for the common cold though its thought to help prevent more serious complications. Cases of ascorbic acid vitamin c deficiency disease scurvy, are well documented throughout history. Before 1970, it was known that vitamin c was an example of a new class of anticancer substances. Vitamin c is crucial for anyone dealing with fatigue. Well email you at these times to remind you to study. Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Isolated in 1928, vitamin c is essential for the development and maintenance of connective tissues. The vitamin c content of food may be reduced by prolonged storage and by cooking. Increased consumption of ascorbic acid raises serum ascorbic levels and. But we do know that aging and uv rays lessen the amount of. While many common plant foods contain vitamin c, the best. Vitamin c linus pauling institute oregon state university.
Figure 2 in the natural history of ascorbic acid in the evolution of the. Higdon and balz frei linus pauling institute, oregon state university, corvallis, or 97331 structure and chemistry of vitamin c lascorbic acidthe chemical name for lascorbic acid is 2,3didehydrolthreohexano1,4lactone. Ascorbic acid vitamin c is a watersoluble vitamin 300 gl at 20 c and is also a necessary nutrient for maintaining the physiological balance of the process in humans and some animals. This timeline traces the history of scurvy, the discovery of a cure for the disease and the isolation and identification of ascorbic acid known also as vitamin c. Studies suggest that vitamin c may reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, and cataracts. Conversely, the higher the vitamin c levels in the blood, the lower the incidence of kidney stones. Since the excretion halflife of vitamin c is around 30 minutes, that 70mml only represents the amount of vitamin c recycled by the kidneys. Tadeusz reichstein of the swiss institute of technology in zurich. Stevens a, c a linus pauling institute, oregon state university, corvallis, or 97331, usa b department of nutrition and exercise science, oregon state university, corvallis, or 97331, usa c department of pharmaceutical sciences, oregon state university, corvallis, or 97331, usa. Vitamin c ascorbic acid an overview and introduction. Clinical guide to the use of vitamin 1 vitamin c in new. Food sources for vitamin c consuming vitamin crich foods is the best method to ensure an adequate intake of this vitamin. The history of scurvy and vitamin c pubmed central pmc.
People who smoke need an additional 35 milligrams of vitamin c every day. The term scurvy for the disease resulting from prolonged vitamin c deficiency had origins in scorbutus latin, scorbut french, and skorbut german. It also illustrates the main time points of the history of vitamin c and the common. Because vitamin c acts as an antioxidant a nutrient that chemically binds and neutralizes the tissuedamaging effects of substances known as free radicals it is vital to the growth and health of bones, teeth, gums, ligaments, and blood vessels.
818 673 677 557 246 9 371 1017 432 480 569 515 1575 673 599 953 404 695 480 85 354 146 408 705 1120 846 275 1077 205 1568 1254 1450 81 1149 1394 300 919