Vitamin Supplements

Many other actions of vitamin C contribute to its role as a protective vitamin. Ascorbic acid is found in close association with the white cells of the blood, particularly those that destroy harmful bacteria. They are found in the lymph cells which take part in immune reactions, and there is also a high concentration of ascorbic acid found in adrenal glands which is used up during times of stress.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and cannot be stored in the body for a long time, nor in large quantities. There is, however, a small reserve known as a ‘pool’ which consists of approximately five grams in a healthy individual. This is distributed between bone, blood, muscles and glands. When the diet is adequate this ‘pool’ remains constant and in times of shortage it can act as an emergency supply of the vitamin. Read the rest of this entry »

Vitamin C is probably the most popular vitamin. Everyone knows something about it, and it features in advertisements, articles and discussions. It is easy to buy, relatively cheap and many people ‘believe’ in it. Every winter quantities of vitamin C tablets are swallowed, chewed or drunk in an attempt to combat the common cold. The strange thing is that when put to the test vitamin C does not produce very convincing evidence that it can help us in the way we expect. We do need it (30 mg per day is the recommended daily allowance) and it has important functions, particularly as it affects the structure of bones, muscles, blood vessels and skin. It has been described as the ‘cement’ of the body, and without it wounds do not heal, bones cannot mend and bacterial infection can spread rapidly throughout the tissues. Read the rest of this entry »