BASIC INFORMATION

Brand names:
Ascorbic-Acid Chewable Tablets
Apo-C(R)
Flavorcee(R)
Ascorbic-Acid Effervescent Tablets
Redoxon(R)
Ascorbic-Acid Extended-Release Capsules
Ascorbicap(R)
Cetane(R)
Cevi-Bid(R)
Cevita(R)
Ascorbic-Acid Extended-Release Tablets
Arco-Cee(R)
Cemill(R)
Ascorbic-Acid Oral Solution
Cecon(R)
Ce-Vi-So(R)
Ascorbic-Acid Syrup
Ascorbic-acid syrup(R)
Ascorbic-Acid Tablets
Apo-C(R)
Cevalin(R)
Cevita(R)
Available from natural sources? Yes
Available from synthetic sources? Yes
Prescription required? No
Fat-soluble or water-soluble: Water-soluble

NATURAL SOURCES

Black currants
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Collards
Grapefruit
Green peppers
Guava
Kale
Lemons
Mangos
Orange juice
Oranges
Papayas
Potatoes
Rose hips
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet and hot peppers
Tangerines
Tomatoes
Watercress

REASONS TO USE

• Promotes healthy capillaries, gums, teeth.
• Aids iron absorption.
• Helps heal wounds and broken bones.
• Prevents and treats scurvy.
• Treats anemia, especially for iron-deficiency anemia.
• Treats urinary-tract infections.
• Helps form collagen in connective tissue.
• Increases iron absorption from intestines.
• Contributes to hemoglobin and red-blood-cell production in bone marrow.
• Blocks production of nitrosamines.
  

  UNPROVED SPECULATED BENEFITS

   

• Prevents or cures the common cold and other infections.
• Cures some forms of cancer.
• Reduces cholesterol.
• Protects against heart disease.
• Prevents blood clots.
• Prevents allergies.
• Prevents or cures poisoning from various substances.
• Cures arthritis, skin ulcers, hay fever.
• Reduces rectal polyps.
• Alleviates mental illness.
• Relieves herpes infections of eyes and genitals.
• Prevents periodontal disease.
• Detoxifies those who abuse alcohol and drugs.
• Heals bed sores.
• Retards aging.
  

  WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS?

   

• Anyone with inadequate caloric or nutritional dietary intake or increased nutritional requirements.
• Older people (over 55 years).
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women.
• Those who abuse alcohol or other drugs.
• People with a chronic wasting illness, acute illness with fever, hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis, cold exposure.
• Anyone who experiences excess stress for long periods or who has recently undergone surgery.
• Athletes and workers who participate in vigorous physical activities.
• Those with a portion of the gastrointestinal tract surgically removed.
• People with recent severe burns or injuries.
• Those receiving kidney dialysis.
• Infants on unfortified formulas.
  

  DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

   

• Scurvy: muscle weakness, swollen gums, loss of teeth, tiredness, depression, bleeding under skin, bleeding gums
• Shortness of breath
• Digestive difficulties
• Easy bruising
• Swollen or painful joints
• Nosebleeds
• Anemia: weakness, tiredness, paleness
• Frequent infections
• Slow healing of wounds
  

  UNPROVED SPECULATED SYMPTOMS

• Blood-vessel weakness
  

  LAB TESTS TO DETECT DEFICIENCY

   

• Vitamin-C levels in blood plasma.
• Measurement of ascorbic-acid level in white-blood cells. (Expensive and used mostly for experimental purposes.)
  

  DOSAGE AND USAGE INFORMATION

  Age	RDA
  0-12 months	35mg
  1-10 years	45mg
  11-14 years	50mg
  15+ years	60mg
  Pregnant	+20mg
  Lactating	+40mg

  What this vitamin does:

• Necessary for collagen formation and tissue repair.
• Participates in oxidation-reduction reactions.
• Needed for metabolism of phenylalanine, tyrosine, folic acid, iron.
• Helps utilization of carbohydrates, synthesis of fats and proteins, preservation of integrity of blood-vessel walls.
• Strengthens blood vessels.Miscellaneous information:
  FOOD PREPARATION TIPS TO CONSERVE VITAMIN C:
• Eat food raw or minimally cooked.
• Shorten cooking time by putting vegetables in very small amounts of water.
• Avoid prolonged standing of food at room temperature.
• Avoid overexposure of food to air and light.
• Avoid soaking vegetables.Available as:
• Tablets: Swallow whole with full glass of liquid. Don’t chew or crush. Take with meals or 1 to 1-1/2 hours after meals unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Extended-release capsules or tablets: Swallow whole with full glass of liquid. Don’t chew or crush. Take with or immediately after food to decrease stomach irritation.
• Oral solution: Dilute in at least 1/2 glass water or other liquid. Take with meals or 1 to 1-1/2 hours after meals unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Injectable forms are administered by doctor or nurse.
• Chewable tablets: Chew well before swallowing.
• Effervescent tablets: Allow to dissolve completely in liquid before swallowing.
• A constituent of many multivitamin/mineral preparations.
  

  WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  Don’t take if you:

• Are allergic to vitamin C.Consult your doctor if you have:
• Gout.
• Kidney stones.
• Sickle-cell anemia.Over age 55:
• Needs are greater.
• Side effects are more likely.
• If you take 1,000mg a day or more, drink AT LEAST 2 QUARTS of water daily.Pregnancy:
• Requires vitamin-C supplements because of demands made by bone development, teeth and connective-tissue formation of fetus. Consult doctor to ensure correct dose.
• If mother take megadoses, newborn may develop deficiency symptoms after birth.
• Don’t take megadoses.Breast-feeding:
• Requires vitamin-C supplementation to support rapid growth of child. Consult doctor to ensure correct dose.
• Don’t take megadoses.Effect on lab tests:
  WITH MEGADOSES (10 TIMES RECOMMENDED RDA):
• Blood in stool. Large doses may cause false-negative test results.
• LDH and SGOT (See Glossary)
• Glucose in urine. Depends on method used.
• Serum bilirubin. False low level.
• Urinary pH. False low level.Storage:
• Store in cool, dry place away from direct light, but don’t freeze.
• Store safely out of reach of children.
• Don’t store in bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and moisture may change action of vitamin.Others:
• Very high doses may cause kidney stones, although reported studies do not confirm this.
  

  OVERDOSE/TOXICITY

  Signs and symptoms:
  Flushed face, headache, increased urination, lower-abdominal
  cramps, mild diarrhea, nausea, vomiting for oral forms.
  Dizziness and faintness (if given by injection).

  What to do:

• For symptoms of overdosage: Discontinue vitamin and consult doctor. Also see ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS section below.
• For accidental overdosage (such as child taking entire bottle): Dial 911 (emergency), 0 for operator or your nearest Poison Control Center.
  

  ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS

  Reaction or effect	What to do
  Anemia	Discontinue. Call doctor
  	immediately.
  Flushed face	Discontinue. Call doctor when
  	convenient.
  Headache	Discontinue. Call doctor when
  	convenient.
  Increased urination	Discontinue. Call doctor when
  	convenient.
  Lower abdominal cramps	Seek emergency treatment.
  Mild diarrhea	Discontinue. Call doctor when
  	convenient.
  Nausea	Seek emergency treatment.
  Vomiting	Seek emergency treatment.

  INTERACTION WITH MEDICINE, VITAMINS OR MINERALS

  Interacts with	Combined effect
  Aminosalicylic acid (PAS for	Increases chance of formation
  tuberculosis)	of drug crystals in urine.
  	Large doses of vitamin C must
  	be taken to produce this effect.
  Anti-cholinergics	Decreases anti-cholinergic
  	effect.
  Anti-coagulants (oral)	Decreases anti-coagulant
  	effect.
  Aspirin	Decreases vitamin-C effect.
  Barbiturates	Decreases vitamin-C effect.
  	Increases barbiturate effect.
  Calcium	Assists in absorption of
  	calcium.
  Copper	Decreases absorption of
  	copper. Large doses of vitamin
  	C must be taken to produce
  	this effect.
  Iron supplements	Increases iron effect.
  Mineral oil	Decreases vitamin-C effect.
  Oral contraceptives	Decreases vitamin-C effect.
  Quinidine	Decreases quinidine effect.
  Salicylates	Decreases vitamin-C effect.
  Sulfa drugs	Decreases vitamin-C effect.
  	May cause kidney stones.
  Tetracyclines	Decreases vitamin-C effect.

  INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES

   

• Tobacco decreases absorption. Smokers may require supplemental vitamin C.
• Alcohol can be more rapidly broken down in body with large doses of vitamin C.