Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits, berries and vegetables. It is also a generic prescription medication and in some countries is sold as a non-prescription dietary supplement. As a therapy, it is used to prevent and treat scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency.
Role of vitamin C in body:
Vitamin C is beneficial for various aspects of health, including boosting the immune system, supporting skin health, and aiding in wound healing. It also plays a crucial role in collagen formation, which is essential for the health of bones, cartilage, and skin. Additionally, Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin C does help skin in numerous ways, primarily due to its antioxidant properties and role in collagen production. It can help protect against sun damage, brighten the complexion, reduce hyperpigmentation, and even combat wrinkles and fine lines. Additionally, vitamin C can improve skin elasticity and promote healing.
Vitamin C is generally considered beneficial for skin health, offering numerous advantages. As a powerful antioxidant, it helps protect against damage from free radicals, environmental stressors like pollution, and UV rays. It also promotes collagen production, which is vital for maintaining skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Here's a more detailed look at how Vitamin C benefits hair:
•Collagen Production:
Vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis, a protein that provides strength and structure to hair.
By boosting collagen, Vitamin C helps strengthen hair follicles, which are the foundation of hair growth, and prevents hair from becoming weak and brittle. •Antioxidant Protection:
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, protecting hair follicles from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress.
This protection helps maintain healthy scalp conditions and supports optimal hair growth.
•Iron Absorption:
Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron, a mineral essential for hair growth and overall health.
Iron deficiency can lead to hair loss and brittle hair, so ensuring adequate iron absorption is crucial for healthy hair.
• Scalp Health:
Vitamin C's anti-inflammatory properties can soothe and calm the scalp, helping to alleviate dryness, dandruff, and irritation.
A healthy scalp environment is essential for optimal hair growth and prevents hair from becoming weak and brittle.
• Other Benefits:
Vitamin C can also help stimulate dermal papilla cell growth, which are important for hair formation.
It may also help inhibit DHT, a hormone that can cause hair follicle shrinkage and contribute to hair loss.
Vitamin C deficiency
Symptoms of low level of vitamin C deficiency::
Fatigue and weakness: Feeling tired and lacking energy.
Irritability: Feeling easily frustrated or annoyed.
Muscle aches: Pain or stiffness in the muscles.
Dry skin: Skin that feels rough, scaly, and itchy.
Joint pain: Pain or discomfort in the joints.
Easy bruising: Bruising easily with minor bumps or scrapes.
Small red-blue skin spots: Tiny spots that appear on the skin due to bleeding under the surface.
High level of vitamin C deficiency
Scurvy:vitamin C levels, if severe enough, can lead to scurvy, a condition characterized by fatigue, easy bruising, bleeding gums, and slow wound healing.
Scurvy is condition caused by a severe lack of vitamin C in the diet.Scurvy may also be referred to as a severe vitamin C deficiency. However, it's still also known as scurvy today.
Babies, children and older people who find it hard to have a healthy diet may also be more at risk of scurvy.
In modern times, scurvy occurs most commonly in people with mental disorders, unusual eating habits, alcoholism, and older people who live alone.
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and vegetables. Scurvy results from a deficiency of vitamin C in the diet.
Early manifestations of Scurvy are non-specific. Symptoms may not occur for a few months after a person's dietary intake of vitamin C drops too low. Bruising, bleeding gums, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and skin rash are among scurvy symptoms.
Symptoms of severe deficiency that is Scurvy:
Bleeding gums: Swollen, red, and painful gums that bleed easily.
Loosened teeth: Teeth that become wobbly or fall out.
Slow wound healing: Wounds take longer to heal and may become infected.
Anemia: Reduced red blood cell count due to impaired iron absorption.
Nose bleeds: Frequent or severe nose bleeds.
Skin hemorrhages: Bleeding under the skin, appearing as red or purple spots.
Dry, splitting hair: Hair that is brittle, dry, and prone to splitting.
Corkscrew-shaped hair: Hair that appears twisted or bent.
Joint pain and swelling:
Pain and swelling in the joints due to collagen breakdown.
Weak bones: Bones become more brittle and prone to fractures
.
Treatment of Scurvy:
Treatment of Scurvy involves taking vitamin C supplements and eating citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, kiwis, strawberries, and guava.
Scurvy is easily treated by adding some vitamin C to your diet, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Your GP may also recommend taking vitamin C supplements until you feel better. They might arrange a blood test to confirm you have scurvy if they're not sure.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin C is generally 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. Pregnant women should aim for 85 mg, and breastfeeding women should target 120 mg daily. The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for adults is 2,000 mg per day, meaning that taking more than this amount may not offer additional benefits and could potentially cause side effects.
Details of dose:
•Adult Women: 75 mg per day.
•Adult Men: 90 mg per day.
•Pregnant Women: 85 mg per day.
•Breastfeeding Women: 120 mg per day.
•Children: The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for children varies depending on their age.
•Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): 2,000 mg per day for adults. This is the maximum amount that is likely to be safe without causing adverse effects.
Information complied by
Dr. Bhairavsinh Raol
