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Patient Education
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development. It is called as L-ascorbic acid.
What are the Functions of Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It is necessary to form collagen which is necessary for the growth, and repair of bone, skin, and other tissues of the body. It helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. It helps in the absorption of iron in the body.
Which are the Food Sources of Vitamin C?
All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C. Highest sources of vitamin C are found in parsley, bell pepper, strawberries, citrus fruits and juices (oranges, lemon juice), papaya, leafy greens (cauliflower, broccoli) kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts.
Does Heating Food Lead to Destruction of Vitamin C?
About 25% of the vitamin C in vegetables can be lost by boiling or steaming the food for a few minutes. This same degree of loss occurs in the freezing and unthawing of vegetables and fruits.
What is the Daily Requirement of Vitamin C for a normal individual?
The daily requirement of vitamin C for the human body is 40-70 mg/day.
Is Vitamin C Stored in the Human Body?
The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor does it store it. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in daily diet.
My child does not eat fruits and vegetables. Will he get Vitamin C Deficiency?
Vitamin C deficiency may result from a diet deficient in fresh fruits and vegetables. The deficiency of vitamin C causes "scurvy" in humans.
What is Scurvy?
Scurvy is characterized by bleeding gums (gums become swollen, purple, and spongy and the teeth eventually loosen), bleeding under the skin, and even bleeding around the bones. This is because synthesized collagen is too unstable to perform its function and thus bleeding in tissues can occur. The hair becomes dry and brittle, and the skin becomes dry, rough, and scaly. Anemia may develop. Infections may develop, and wounds do not heal. The symptoms of scurvy develop after a few months of deficiency.
What is the Treatment of Scurvy?
Treatment of scurvy consists of vitamin C supplementation in a dose of 100-300 mg/day for 10 days. Improvement in diet and intake of citrus fruits is recommended to maintain a normal intake of vitamin C.
What happens if Overdosage of Vitamin C occurs?
Vitamin C toxicity is very rare because the body cannot store the vitamin. However, high doses are not recommended because such high doses can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea.