Vitamin C

Lily ChinNikita GuptaShirley He Brenda Wong

Vitamin C

Ascorbic Acid water soluble helps to synthesize collagen,

norepinephrine, and carnitineAntioxidant

Vitamin C

Function in the Body

Collagen –important part of blood vessels, ligaments, tendons and bone

Norepinephrine/noradrenaline – neurotransmitter that affects mood and brain function

Carnitine – small molecule essential to transport of fat to mitochondria where fat is turned into energy

Vitamin C Deficiency

 can occur from a diet low in vitamin C (not enough fresh

fruits and vegetables)cooking food (destroys vitamin C)pregnancy, breastfeeding, surgery, and

smoking increases the body's requirements for vitamin C, which increases the risk of deficiency

Severe Deficiency

can lead to scurvycauses bruisingswollen gums and loss of teethdry hair and skinAnemiawounds no longer healimpairs bone growth in young children

  

Deficiency Symptoms

fatigue, irritabilityDepressionweight loss muscle/joint pain

Treatment

high doses of daily vitamin C supplements symptoms disappear after

1-2 weeks

Vitamin C Toxicity/Statistics

Body does not store vitamin CTherefore vitamin C is rareIf you consume more than 200 mg a day,

you have:Stomach acheDiarrhea

Fun Fact

To avoid Vitamin C overdose, do not drink a full bottle of naked juice. Some flavors contain over 400% of your daily recommended intake, which is 8000 mg a day.

Top 10 Food Sources

Guava Red sweet pepper Kiwi Orange Green sweet pepper Grapefruit Juice Vegetable Juice Cocktail Strawberries Brussels Sprouts Cantaloupe

Good Food Sources of Vitamin C

Substantial amount of vitamin C in relation to its calorie content

Contributes at least 10% of the U.S. RDA

U.S. RDA for Vitamin C is 60 mg/day

Food Sources

Vitamin C can be lost from food during preparation, cooking, storage. To retain Vitamin C:Serve fruits and vegetables rawSteam, boil food with minimum waterCook potatoes in their skinRefrigerate prepared juices

Bibliography

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/

Benjah-bmm27http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch1

54/ch154i.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm