Vitamin C – properties and application

Vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid, is a popular and highly sought after water-soluble vitamin. It is an organic chemical compound that is essential for the proper functioning of the human body and maintaining a healthy existence.

The body of humans and other primates, as well as some bats, guinea pigs and some species of fish, does not have the ability to produce vitamin C on its own due to the lack of the enzyme L-gluconolactone oxidase. Therefore, it must be taken externally, with food or as a supplement.

What our body needs vitamin C for

Vitamin C performs many important biological functions in the body, mainly it:

supports the nervous system;
neutralizes free oxygen radicals, preventing cell damage;
is necessary for the proper synthesis of collagen (the main building protein of connective tissue);
plays an important role in the production of steroid hormones;
participates in the metabolism of tyrosine, an amino acid that is a substrate for the synthesis of thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine), and is also involved in the synthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine and adrenaline;
strengthens the body’s immunity, which is especially important at an early age;
facilitates iron absorption.

In some cases, doctors and nutritionists recommend taking large doses of vitamin C, many times higher than the recommended daily allowance (recommended dietary allowance). The fact is that higher doses of this