Vitamin C Other names: l-ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid, coupled with dehydroascorbic acid to which it is reversibly oxidised, has a variety of functions in cellular oxidation processes. Ascorbic acid is required in several important hydroxylations, including the conversion of proline to hydroxyproline (and thus in collagen formation e.g. for intercellular substances and during wound healing); the formation of the neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine from tryptophan and noradrenaline from dopamine, and the biosynthesis of carnitine from lysine and methionine.

Ascorbic acid appears to have an important role in metal ion metabolism, including the gastrointestinal absorption of iron and its transport between plasma and storage organs. There is evidence that ascorbic acid is required for normal leucocyte functions and that it participates in the detoxification of numerous foreign substances by the hepatic microsomal system.

Deficiency of ascorbic acid leads to scurvy, which may be manifested by weakness, fatigue, dyspnoea, aching bones, perifollicular hyperkeratosis, petechia and ecchymosis, swelling and bleeding of the gums, hypochromic anaemia and other haematopoietic disorders, together with reduced resistance to infections and impaired wound healing.

Absorption

Ascorbic acid is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Distribution

Ascorbic acid is widely distributed to all tissues. Body stores of ascorbic acid normally are about 1.5g. The concentration is higher in leucocytes and platelets than in erythrocytes and plasma.

Elimination

Ascorbic acid additional to the body’s needs, generally amounts above 200mg daily, is rapidly eliminated; unmetabolised ascorbic acid and its inactive metabolic products are chiefly excreted in the urine. The amount of ascorbic acid excreted unchanged in the urine is dose-dependent and may be accompanied by mild diuresis.

There are no preclinical data.