Have you taken Vitamin C lately?

What you need to know:

  • Ascorbic acid is also an antioxidant and this means that it protects us against damaging effects of certain substances in the body that at worst expose to getting cancer.
  • Diabetics and people on oral contraceptives should let their doctor/pharmacist know when this vitamin is prescribed.

This vitamin has either been recommended by a friend, a pharmacist or perhaps doctor for many of us. Vitamin C is otherwise called ascorbic acid. Often it is given when one has come down with flu.
This vitamin is soluble in water and does not occur naturally in our bodies, so we have to get it from external sources. Foods that are rich in this vitamin include citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines, lemons and even tomatoes.
Vitamin C is needed in the body for growth and repair of body tissues in all body parts. It is needed for maintenance and repair of bones and teeth as well as wound healing.
The deficiency of this vitamin leads to scurvy although this is more common among the elderly.
Scurvy when severe is manifested by swelling of the gums and bleeding, rough, dry skin, easy bruising and nose bleeds, dry and split hair although this rarely happens.
A patient with these signs though is more likely to have leukaemia. Smokers also are more likely to suffer from this deficiency. And though the deficiency is rare, it is said most people have low levels of the vitamin.

Ascorbic acid is also an antioxidant and this means that it protects us against damaging effects of certain substances in the body that at worst expose to getting cancer.
The tablets are often 50mg and often given about three times a day. It is advised that one takes plenty of fluids when taking this vitamin on prescription. High doses of the vitamin can lead to diarrhoea and stomach upset and when this happens the dose should be lowered.
Diabetics and people on oral contraceptives should let their doctor/pharmacist know when this vitamin is prescribed.

The author is a pharmacist