What does vitamin C do? How to use and the notes

16.02.23 251

Surely you have heard a lot of advice to supplement Vitamin C daily, supplement Vitamin C when sick to get well quickly. But do you know what does Vitamin C do for the body? And how to use it properly? Let’s find the answer with Solife below!

1. What effect does vitamin C have?

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that the body cannot produce on its own. It has an important role in collagen biosynthesis, providing Vitamin C to the body through daily food or synthetic products containing an appropriate amount.

What does vitamin C do 1

There have been many proven effects of Vitamin C on the body, some effects such as enhancing resistance or treating and preventing some diseases are of great interest to many people. To know what Vitamin C does? Please follow the effects listed below by Solife.

1.1. Increase iron absorption

Iron is a very essential and important nutrient for the body to make red blood cells and transport oxygen. If your body is low in iron, don’t worry Vitamin C will help you improve your ability to absorb iron from daily meals.

What does vitamin C do 2

The effect of Vitamin C is to help improve the metabolism of poorly absorbed iron. For example, in plants with different forms of iron that are difficult to absorb, at this time Vitamin C will help convert iron into a more absorbable form. This is very useful for those who follow a vegetarian diet or abstain from eating meat without having to worry about iron deficiency.

Therefore, taking vitamin C along with iron is very good because it can increase the amount of iron absorbed by the body in both adults and children

1.2. Help for eyes

Macular degeneration is an age-related eye disease called AMD for short. People with many factors that favor the progression of AMD with age should be prevented by taking a combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, zinc, and beta-carotene.

1.3. Reduce the amount of protein in the urine of people with diabetes

People with diabetes should take a combination of vitamin C and vitamin E because it can help reduce protein in the urine.

1.4. Helps stabilize heart rate

According to WHO, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death globally. Factors that increase the risk of heart disease can be high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. The effect of Vitamin C is that it can help reduce these risk factors, thereby helping to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Also, taking vitamin C before, during, and for a few days after heart surgery can help prevent arrhythmias.

What does vitamin C do 4

1.5. Helps prevent colds

When it comes to the common cold, the effects of vitamin C may not be a cure-all. But it can help prevent complications from becoming more serious. There are several studies on taking vitamin C for colds and flu. It can reduce the risk of developing further complications such as pneumonia and lung infections.

In addition, there is some controversy about the effectiveness of vitamin C in treating the common cold. However, most research shows that taking 1-3 grams of vitamin C can shorten the course of a cold by 1 to 1.5 days.

1.6. Helps prevent respiratory infections

Using vitamin C before heavy exercise, at high intensity such as running a marathon, the use of Vitamin C is essential. Swimming can prevent respiratory infections after intense exercise.

With this effect, it is very suitable for athletes who do high-intensity exercise to prevent disease from occurring.

1.7. Help reduce small amounts of lipoprotein cholesterol

The correct use of vitamin C will work to help reduce small amounts of lipoprotein cholesterol in people with high cholesterol.

1.8. Anti-inflammatory

Vitamin C has the following anti-inflammatory effects:

  • Gastritis: Some medicines used to treat H.pylori infection can aggravate gastritis. Taking vitamin C in combination with the drug omeprazole may reduce this side effect.
  • Osteoarthritis: Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant and fights against molecules that cause inflammation, it is also a cofactor in the synthesis of collagen, the main protein in joint tissue and bone. So taking Vitamin C can help fight the development of polyarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

1.9. Physical enhancement.

One of the main effects of Vitamin C is to support the immune system and enhance physical fitness. The use of vitamin C in conjunction with a diet will help older adults increase athletic performance and muscle strength. At the same time, adolescents after supplementing with vitamin C will also improve oxygen levels during exercise.

Resistance is considered a shield that protects the body’s health. Therefore, you should add foods containing the right amount of vitamin C in your meals to strengthen your resistance.

1.10. Help beautiful skin

Vitamin C has an effect on cells inside and outside the body. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the association between nutritional intake and skin aging in 4,025 women between the ages of 40 and 47. These results showed that those Using a sufficient amount of vitamin C daily will appear less wrinkles and skin is also smoother. Because when the amount of vitamin in the body is enough, it helps to produce collagen.

Therefore, the effect of Vitamin C is very good for the skin, showing that many skin creams on the market contain vitamin C to help users slow down the skin aging process. This cream can also help restore skin, reduce redness after laser beauty treatment. In addition, taking or applying a combination of vitamin E and vitamin C will help prevent skin pigmentation and sunburn effectively.

2. Is taking vitamin C good?

After reading the effects of vitamin C above, have you concluded that taking vitamin C is really good? If you are not sure with your conclusion, let Solife answer for you!

What does vitamin C do 5
With many useful effects that Vitamin C brings, it is often compared to the body’s resistance vitamin. It is most involved in supporting the functions of the immune system, enhancing resistance, fighting bacteria and helping wounds heal faster. When the body lacks vitamin C, the risk of infections is higher, especially respiratory infections.

If vitamin C is deficiency, the body will have some manifestations such as dry skin, gingivitis, bleeding gums, etc…. The human body is not capable of producing this vitamin on its own, but must be through foods such as green vegetables, citrus fruits, … or synthetic products containing vitamin C.

In the daily natural environment, the synthesis of vitamin C is very little and difficult because they are easily soluble and easily oxidized. Therefore, taking vitamin C properly every day will supplement the amount of vitamin C needed by the body to help prevent, as well as reduce, some common human diseases.

So Solife will help you conclude that taking vitamin C is very good for the body! However, take vitamin C in the right way and at the right dose, to suit your body to avoid the side effects of vitamin C.

3. How to use vitamin C effectively

Users should use vitamins strictly according to the doctor’s instructions, absolutely do not increase or decrease the dose arbitrarily than recommended.

Take this vitamin by mouth with or without food, usually 1-2 times per day. Follow all directions on the product package, or as directed by your doctor. Depending on what form vitamin C is prepared in, there are appropriate uses:

  • Vitamin C gum: can be chewed for as long as you like, remember to throw it away after chewing, not swallowing.
  • Vitamin C chewable tablet: Before swallowing, chew the vitamin C tablet completely, combined with drinking plenty of water.
  • Vitamin C Capsules, Extended Release Tablets: Swallow whole and do not chew, crush or break tablets. If the tablets are broken, it can release all of the medicine at once, leading to an increased risk of side effects. Take it with a full glass of water (8 ounces / 240 ml) for best results. If your doctor tells you otherwise, follow doctor’s instructions.
  • Liquid Vitamin C: Use a special measuring spoon or measuring cup to carefully measure out the correct dose of vitamin C.
  • Vitamin C lozenges, fast disintegrating: open the package only when ready to drink. Keep your hands dry when taking vitamin C tablets out of the package and placing them in your mouth. Do not swallow immediately, but suck to let the vitamin dissolve in the mouth. When the drug dissolves, it should be swallowed several times.
  • Vitamin C powder: mix thoroughly in water or suitable soft food and stir well. Use immediately after mixing and use up, do not save for the next time.

Note: Dosage is based on medical condition and response to treatment. Besides, use vitamin C on a regular basis to avoid interruption to get the most benefit from it. Should be used according to a fixed time to avoid forgetting. And if you have serious health problems while taking vitamin C, see your doctor right away.

Here are some questions and answers listed by Solife to help you know how to use Vitamin C to get the most out of it:

3.1. When should you take vitamin C?

Determining when to take vitamin C is very important because the timing can affect the absorption and excretion of vitamin C. According to medical experts, there are 2 best times to take vitamin C: 30 minutes before eating and 2 hours after eating. Because at this time, the stomach does not contain food, so vitamin C can be easily dissolved in water and absorbed into the body in the required amount. The remaining vitamin C residue will be eliminated through the urine, so that the vitamin does not accumulate too much in the body, preventing bad consequences caused by excess vitamin C.

However, for people with stomach pain, vitamin C should be taken after meals. In particular, vitamin C should not be taken too late in the evening, because vitamin C is highly stimulant, which will make it difficult to sleep.

For young children, giving them vitamin C after breakfast will help them absorb better than other times. Because the child’s digestive system is still weak, do not give it to the child right before a meal to avoid stomach upset. It is also not recommended for children to drink at night because it is easy to make it difficult for children to sleep.

3.2. Is it good to take vitamin C every day?

The body always needs vitamin C every day because every day the body will load a necessary amount of Vitamin C to use, if the body has an excess, it will be eliminated in the urine. That’s why it’s important to take vitamin C every day. However, in terms of dosage used, there are differences in absorption capacity to suit the body as follows:

  • With a person taking between 30 – 180mg of the vitamin per day, their body is able to absorb from 70% to a maximum of 90% of this vitamin.
  • If you take more than 1 gram(g) of vitamin C/day, your body’s ability to absorb vitamin C will drop below 50% (to reduce negative side effects).

For young children, vitamin C should be taken every day because it is essential for the baby’s development. According to experts, when young in the womb, there is a certain resistance. However, because the immune system is still weak, when exposed to the outside environment, children are very susceptible to respiratory and digestive diseases. This long-term condition can affect the overall development of the child. Therefore, supplementing with vitamin C every day is an essential job, creating conditions to help children develop better. Daily intake of vitamin C by adults helps prevent and treat high-risk disease types.

Read more: Is taking vitamin C hot? Instructions for taking vitamin C properly

3.3. What should I do if I miss a dose?

Do not stop taking vitamin C if you have a vitamin C deficiency or are taking vitamin C for a long time. Because then your body will be deficient in vitamin C leading to symptoms like bleeding gums, feeling very tired, and red or blue spots around hair follicles.

If you forget, use it as soon as you remember. And skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose as scheduled. Absolutely do not take more medicine to make up for the dose, once you overdose, there is a high risk of poisoning. In short, you should strictly follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid unwanted effects. If in the process of using vitamin C, you have dangerous health problems, you should go to a medical facility immediately for help.

3.4. What happens if i overdose?

Excess vitamin C is not life-threatening, but can experience side effects such as: digestive disorders, stomach and duodenal ulcers, headaches, insomnia, cystitis, diarrhea, increased kidney stone formation , causing gout, reducing the durability of red blood cells, hindering the absorption of vitamins A, B12, ….

Most of these side effects do not occur when eating foods containing vitamin C, but rather from taking the vitamin in supplement form. Symptoms are more likely to appear if you consume more than 2,000 mg per day. Therefore, an acceptable intake limit of 2,000 mg per day has been demonstrated.

Note, people with hemoglobinopathy, in this state, it is easy for the body to store too much iron, it will be aggravated when these people take too much vitamin C which can lead to body tissue damage. In addition, vitamin C supplements can also interact with some medications, so consult your doctor before taking a supplement.

3.5. Note before taking vitamin C

Dose of vitamin C needed for each subject: Everyone needs a vitamin C boost for their body, but the dosage for each person is completely different. To avoid adding too little or too much vitamin C, you should consult a professional to understand your vitamin C needs.

Choose the time to take vitamin C: Should take vitamin C on an empty stomach, usually 30 minutes before eating or 2 hours after eating. This is a group of vitamins that can dissolve in water, so the process of absorption into the body is quite easy. The body will absorb a sufficient amount needed and excrete the excess through urine.

Note on dosage for children and pregnant women, lactating women: Vitamin C overdose can still cause bad signs for health, in some cases, it also causes side effects. Unintended. Therefore, use vitamin C very carefully for special subjects.

Take vitamin C according to instructions: Specifically, vitamin C is prepared in many different forms, most typically in oral tablet form, periodontitis and liquid form. For best absorption, you should take vitamins properly.

Drink plenty of water: To be able to absorb vitamin C best, readers should also drink plenty of water every day, about 1.5-2.5 liters per day. Drinking enough water also has many other health benefits, so try to remember to drink water regularly.

Handling in case of overdose: Although it is only an oral vitamin that is beneficial to health, readers should absolutely not use it without a dose. Overdose of vitamin C can cause a few bad symptoms for the body. When you notice that your body has bad symptoms, you should reduce the dose, if it is severe, you must go to a medical facility for advice and care.

3.6. Things you need to keep in mind when taking vitamin C in special cases (pregnancy, lactation, surgery, …)

Using vitamin C for the body is good, but some special cases will have different doses, and ways of use as follows:

Note for surgery: some types of surgery avoid vitamin C, such as gastric bypass surgery to lose weight. According to a study, vitamin C can cause kidney stones after surgery.

Note for pregnant or lactating women: It is estimated that the appropriate amount of vitamin C depends on the age and status of pregnancy or lactation as follows:

  • For pregnant women over 19 years old: 85mg/day.
  • For pregnant women aged 18 years and under: 80mg/day;
  • For women 19 years of age and older who are breastfeeding, it is necessary to supplement with 120mg/day, and for women 19 years and younger, it is 115mg/day.

To avoid harm to the fetus, pregnant women should take vitamin C as prescribed by a doctor, avoid taking too much vitamin C. Women should not absorb more than 1,800 mg/day.

Besides, the case of breastfeeding women taking too much vitamin C can cause some typical side effects such as stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, headache, prolonged can form. kidney stones. Therefore, make sure that we get the right amount of vitamin C into the body, avoid using too much so that the body can be absorbed in the best way.

Above are all the answers to What does Vitamin C do? We hope this article will help you in the process of using vitamin C. If you have any questions or are looking for products that provide vitamins, please contact Solife‘s website immediately!

Reference:

https://suckhoedoisong.vn/vitamin-c-cong-dung-lieu-dung-va-tac-dung-phu-169210908102336606.htm

https://www.vinmec.com/vi/tin-tuc/thong-tin-suc-khoe/suc-khoe-tong-quat/uong-vitamin-c-thoi-diem-nao-la-tot-nhat/

https://www.vinmec.com/vi/tin-tuc/thong-tin-suc-khoe/suc-khoe-tong-quat/vitamin-c-lieu-khuyen-cao-khuyen-dung-va-lieu-gioi-han/

https://suckhoedoisong.vn/7-tac-dung-cua-vitamin-c-co-the-khien-ban-bat-ngo-169210819074654822.htm

https://www.vinmec.com/vi/tin-tuc/thong-tin-suc-khoe/vitamin-c-cong-dung-lieu-dung-thich-hop/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-benefits

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-vitamin-c-should-i-take-daily#benefits

Trần Hoàng Uyên (Senior Manager Pharmaceutical company) là chuyên gia cấp cao với nhiều năm kinh nghiệm trong lĩnh vực dược phẩm. Tốt nghiệp cử nhân chuyên ngành Quản lý dược I tại Trường Đại học Y dược TP. Hồ Chí Minh và hiện đang công tác tại công ty dược phẩm. Với hơn 10 năm kinh nghiệm làm việc trong ngành dược, chị Hoàng Uyên là chuyên gia cộng tác tham vấn y khoa cho danh mục blog cũng như các nội dung liên quan trên Solife. (Tran Hoang Uyen (Senior Manager Pharmaceutical company) is a senior specialist with many years of experience in the Pharmaceutical field. She graduated Bachelor of Pharmacy Management I at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City and is currently working for a pharmaceutical company. With more than 10 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry, Ms. Hoang Uyen is a medical consultant collaborator for content on Solife's website.)