Scientists are studying ascorbic acid to understand how it affects health. Here are several examples of what this research has shown Benefits and hamrs of Ascorbic acid.
People with high intakes of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)from fruits and vegetables might have a lower risk of getting many types of cancer, such as lung, breast, and colon cancer. However, taking vitamin C supplements, with or without other antioxidants, doesn’t seem to protect people from getting cancer.
It is not clear whether taking high doses of vitamin C is helpful as a treatment for cancer. Vitamin C’s effects appear to depend on how it is administered to the. A few studies in animals and test tubes indicate that very high blood levels of vitamin C might shrink tumors. But more research is needed to determine whether high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid helps treat cancer in people.
Ascorbic acid dietary supplements and other antioxidants might interact with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. People being treated for cancer should talk with their oncologist before taking aacorbic acid (vitamin C)or other antioxidant supplements, especially in high doses.
People who eat lots of fruits and vegetables seem to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. However, scientists aren’t sure whether vitamin C itself, either from food or supplements, helps protect people from cardiovascular disease. It is also not clear whether vitamin C helps prevent cardiovascular disease from getting worse in people who already have it Benefits and hamrs of Ascorbic acid.
AMD and cataracts are two of the leading causes of vision loss in older people. Researchers do not believe that ascorbic acid and other antioxidants affect the risk of getting AMD. However, research suggests that ascorbic acid combined with other nutrients might help slow AMD progression.
In a large study among older people with AMD who were at high risk of developing advanced AMD, those who took a daily dietary supplement with 500 mg vitamin C, 80 mg zinc, 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg beta-carotene, and 2 mg copper for about 6 years had a lower chance of developing advanced AMD. They also had less vision loss than those who did not take the dietary supplement. People who have or are developing the disease might want to talk with their doctor about taking dietary supplements.
The relationship between vitamin C and cataract formation is unclear. Some studies show that people who get more vitamin C from foods have a lower risk of getting cataracts. But further research is needed to clarify this association and to determine whether ascorbic acid supplements affect the risk of getting cataracts Benefits and hamrs of Ascorbic acid.
Although (ascorbic acid) vitamin C has long been a popular remedy for the common cold, research shows that for most people, vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold. However, people who take ascorbic acid supplements regularly might have slightly shorter colds or somewhat milder symptoms when they do have a cold. Using ascorbic acid supplements after cold symptoms start does not appear to be helpful.
Vitamin C deficiency. Taking vitamin C by mouth or injecting as a shot prevents and treats vitamin C deficiency, including scurvy. Also, taking vitamin C can reverse problems associated with scurvy.
Iron absorption. Giving ascorbic acid along with iron can increase how much iron the body absorbs in adults and children.
A genetic disorder in newborns called tyrosinemia. Taking vitamin C by mouth or as a shot improves a genetic disorder in newborns in which blood levels of the amino acid tyrosine are too high.
Decreasing protein in the urine (albuminuria). Taking vitamin C plus vitamin E can reduce protein in the urine in people with diabetes.
Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation). Taking ascorbic acid before and for a few days after heart surgery helps prevent irregular heartbeat after heart surgery.
For emptying the colon before a colonoscopy. Before a person undergoes
a colonoscopy, the person must make sure that their colon is
empty. This emptying is called bowel preparation. Some bowel preparation
involves drinking 4 liters of medicated fluid. If vitamin C is included in the
medicated fluid, the person only needs to drink 2 liters. This makes people
more likely to follow through with the emptying procedure. Also fewer side
effects occur. A specific medicated fluid containing vitamin C (MoviPrep, Salix
Parmaceuticals, Inc.) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for bowel preparation.
Redness (erythema) after cosmetic skin procedures. Using a
skin cream containing vitamin C might decrease skin redness
following laser resurfacing for scar and wrinkle removal.
Gout. Higher intake of vitamin C from the diet is linked to a lower risk
of gout in men. But vitamin C doesn’t help treat gout.
Worsening of stomach inflammation caused by medicine used to treat H. pylori
infection. Some medicine used to treat H. pylori infection can worsen
stomach inflammation. Taking aeascorbic acid along with one of these medicines
called omeprazole might decrease this side effect.
hemolytic anemia.Taking
vitamin C supplements might help manage anemia in people
undergoing dialysis.
High blood pressure. Taking ascorbic acid along with medicine to
lower blood pressure helps lower systolic blood pressure
(the top number in a blood pressure reading) by a small amount. But it does not
seem to lower diastolic pressure (the bottom number).
Lead poisoning. Consuming ascorbic acid in the diet seems to lower blood
levels of lead.
Osteoarthritis. Taking vitamin C from dietary sources or from calcium
ascorbate supplements seems to prevent cartilage loss and worsening
of symptoms in people with osteoarthritis.
Physical performance. Eating more ascorbic acid as part of the diet
might improve physical performance and muscle strength in older
people. Also, taking ascorbic acid supplements might
improve oxygen intake during exercise in teenage boys.
Sunburn. Taking vitamin C (ascorbic acid) by mouth or applying it to the
skin along with vitamin E might prevent sunburn. But taking vitamin C
alone does not prevent sunburn.
Wrinkled skin. Skin creams containing vitamin C seem to improve the
appearance of wrinkled skin.
Large doses of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, taken at one time might cause gastrointestinal distress, especially if you consume it on an empty stomach, according to the book, “Nutrition for Health, Fitness and Sport.” Symptoms of gastrointestinal distress include upset stomach, nausea, indigestion, stomach cramps, headaches, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting. These effects are usually mild and are related to the acidity of vitamin C, which can be minimized when taken with food or when combined with an alkaline base, such as calcium ascorbate, to help neutralize the acidity.
Hemochromatosis is a condition that involves excess iron in your body, which can have toxic effects. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a high intake of ascorbic acid can make the symptoms of hemochromatosis worse because Ascorbic acid helps your body absorb more iron from foods and supplements. Hemochromatosis can poison your organs and cause organ failure, damaging your heart, liver and pancreas.
Ascorbic acid supplementation might have a negative effect on athletic performance. In a 2008 study published by the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” ascorbic acid (vitamin C) supplementation decreased endurance capacity in athletes.
Excess ascorbic acid intake increases the risk of kidney stones, according to a report from Harvard Medical School, and men are particularly at risk. When some break down ascorbic acid in the body, it converts into oxalate, which can promote the formation of kidney stones. The authors of a case study in the journal Kidney International reported that a woman developed kidney stones after taking 4 g or more of vitamin C each day for 4 months.
Less commonly, people may experience severe side effects from taking too much vitamin C. Long term intake above the recommended levels increases the risk of these negative effects.
Possible health risks of taking too much ascorbic acid include
Another concern regarding excessive vitamin C intake is that it can impair the body’s ability to process other nutrients.For example, vitamin C may reduce the levels of vitamin B-12 and copper in the body.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, one study found that the presence of very high vitamin C levels in the body increased the likelihood of a person developing painful bone spurs.
However, the Foundation also cited a research study that found that people with low levels of vitamin C had a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a painful inflammatory joint condition.
Conclusion Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. In addition to having many applications, this material also has advantages and benefits. Here are a few examples.
Excessive consumption of ascorbic acid increases the risk of kidney stones.
Ascorbic acid supplementation reduces endurance in athletes.
Ascorbic acid is used to prevent sunburn. ascorbic acid helps people on dialysis with anemia.
Excessive consumption of this substance can disrupt the function of the gastrointestinal tract.