The growing amount of published data on the physiological role of vitamin C represents a great variety of new aspects on the importance of this vitamin.
Ascorbic acid or vitamin C is required for the formation of intercellular substance in the body, including dentine, cartilage, and the protein network of bone.
Hence, it is important in tooth formation, the healing of broken bones, and the healing of the wounds.
Vitamin C may be importance in the pathogenesis of most chronic diseases of aging.
Vitamin C has been found to be potentially important in the prevention of atherosclerosis, cancer, senile, cataract, lung diseases, cognitive function, and degenerative diseases of miscellaneous organs.
Deficiency of vitamin C cause scurvy (spongy gums, loose teeth, swollen joints, hemorrhages in various tissues, etc.) and impaired healing of wounds. Orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C.
The best sources are fresh fruits particularly citrus fruits, tomatoes, and green peppers. Some fruits, like guava, and blackcurrants are particularly rich in the vitamin but they contribute little to normal Western dietary intake.
Green pepper, cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are excellent to good sources of this vitamin C, while other vegetables such as peas, spinach, and lettuce are good to fair sources.
The term vitamin C comprises all compounds with the qualitative biological effect of L-ascorbic. L-ascorbic is a 2,3-enediol-L-gulonic acid.
The importance of ascorbic acid
