Ascorbic acid: What it is for, properties, foods, and side effects

The ascorbic acid is what we know as vitamin C. It is an essential nutrient for human health, so you must take it daily through food or supplements. The body cannot produce it on its own, so poor nutrition can lead to deficiencies.

Its organoleptic properties are tasteless and odorless, meaning it has no taste or smell, and it can also be dissolved in water. It is a powerful antioxidant, working wonders to protect against free radicals and oxidative stress, which makes it great for keeping skin young, caring for cell tissue, clearing the face, and improving cardiovascular health.

The name “ascorbic” comes from its property of curing and preventing scurvy, which originates from a lack of Vitamin C.

But as we say, this substance has many properties and benefits, is found in foods, and can be bought in tablets, capsules, and drops. So, let’s see what it’s for, its uses, how to take it, and resolve any doubts you may have.

What is ascorbic acid and what is it for

Its origin is in sugar, and people ingest it through food or specific medicinal products. The L-ascorbic acid contains potassium, calcium, and sodium salts that act as antioxidants. These salts can dissolve in water and work together as antioxidants that allow fats to oxidize.

It has different applications both in medicine and skin care, so ascorbic acid in cosmetics is widely used, but also in dietary supplementation and to prevent certain metabolic disorders. These sectors benefit from it, as both doctors and cosmetologists find its properties very useful for healing and improving certain aspects of human health.

In humans, ascorbic acid helps prevent respiratory diseases. Its presence in the body prevents colds, coughs, lung, and bronchial conditions. It helps the immune system develop and become stronger against viral attacks and harmful pathogens, as well as boosting human resistance to illness.

Ascorbic acid as an antioxidant is great because it acts as a free radical blocker that accelerates skin aging, internal organs like the heart, pancreas, liver, as well as other external tissues: the ocular system, eyes, and even affects hair vitality and quality.

Its first synthesis was carried out by Norman Haworth, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1937 for his discovery, and since then it has been used to improve human health as well as for beauty treatments. It has many properties for both cases, and this is because its effects also help smooth the skin and eliminate age-related imperfections.

Now let’s look at all its chemical properties, effects, and uses.

Pregnancy

It is quite common to recommend its consumption to pregnant women as it can prevent problems such as hypertension, edema, skin aging, and even prevent anemia during pregnancy.

It is important to note that, during pregnancy, the nutritional requirements for this organic acid increase, so you may need ascorbic acid during pregnancy as long as a professional supervises it.

Otherwise, it poses no danger when needed, and excess will be excreted through urine, just like in other individuals. If you’re pregnant, only take it when necessary.

Properties and benefits

The effects of ascorbic acid on the skin work instantly and also in the medium and long term. Some types of revitalizing serums clear the face and brighten facial features in just 1 or 2 applications. Their results are immediate, eliminating tiredness and improving skin tone.

The use of creams with ascorbic acid and vitamin C serums is like a shock treatment, meaning it’s a method to revitalize the epidermis and dermis layers that, for various reasons, appear dull.

Below are the benefits of ascorbic acid:

• Increased synthesis of natural collagen.
• Antioxidants.
• Improves the production of vitamins, proteins, and lipids.
• Increases resistance against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
• Helps assimilate amino acids like tyrosine.
• Acts in the metabolism of carbohydrates from food.

For the proper functioning of metabolism, it’s important to maintain good levels in the body. Ascorbic acid has properties to stimulate the formation of natural collagen, allowing the skin to regenerate and maintain a youthful appearance for longer. When there is a deficiency, collagen cannot be synthesized, a protein needed for the skin.

One of the symptoms of scurvy is precisely damage to the gums, skin, and hair. All this is due to the improper formation of collagen without vitamin C. Collagen is unstable and needs a hydroxylation process to repair and regenerate daily damage to the body. With a deficiency of ascorbic acid, many tissues in the human body deteriorate and show weakness in a short time.

In addition to the above, ascorbic acid properties help metabolize amino acids like tyrosine, as well as improve the assimilation of carbohydrates, substances like histamine and norepinephrine, carnitine, or serotonin, as well as minerals like iron. Its importance in human nutrition is therefore very high.

Daily dose

At this point, we should differentiate the uses, as the amounts may vary depending on them.

Most people can take it without any problems, maintaining a daily ascorbic acid dose of 75 to 100 mg. This is the amount needed for both women and men, respectively. However, for certain diseases like macular degeneration, doses of up to 500 mg per day may be used.

For children, the pediatric dose is 25 mg/day for children between 4 and 8 years old, 15 mg/day for children aged 1 to 3 years, and 40 to 50 mg/day for infants. In the case of using ascorbic acid in drops, the indicated amount should be noted to match the equivalent in powder or other formats like tablets.

To accelerate healing, doses of 300 to 500 mg per day can be used. This is often recommended before undergoing surgery to improve wound healing.

For treating severe burns, 1 to 2 grams daily.

If intravenous administration is needed (parenteral nutrition), the recommended dose is 100 mg/day.

In all these cases, vitamin C deficiency is prevented. However, it is always recommended to follow a specialist’s instructions so they can assess and calculate the amount you need.

When consumed through food, its intake does not cause problems. Unless you eat excessive amounts of citrus fruits, you can enjoy all its benefits and properties without issues or adverse reactions.

Other important facts about its dosage are:

• It is soluble. Excess ascorbic acid is excreted through urine.
• It is considered very safe when taken.

Despite being considered a very safe substance, it is important to consider the person’s health status to avoid possible side effects and understand any contraindications. We will explain all of this below.

Foods

Contrary to what is commonly believed, oranges and tangerines are not the most important source of ascorbic acid, meaning that while they contain a large amount of vitamin C, there are other foods much more powerful if we consider the amount of this nutrient they provide.

In general, all foods rich in vitamin C are considered valid, making the list of foods with ascorbic acid as follows:

The ideal is to alternate foods that contain ascorbic acid to meet the body’s other nutritional needs. While some foods have higher amounts, they have less proportion of other vitamins and trace elements, making it important to vary between all of them.

Now, we’ve indicated that all these natural products contain vitamin C, so it’s a good time to clarify whether ascorbic acid and vitamin C are the same or if there is any difference.

Ascorbic acid and vitamin C

We can say that their behavior is similar, and in practice, taking vitamin C or ascorbic acid is the same. Generally, distinctions are made when you take it from pills and medicinal remedies or from foods. But even so, you will also find medicinal formulas where they state that they contain vitamin C.

If your needs are aesthetic and you’re looking for an anti-aging product, it’s normal to buy vitamin C for the face, and if you’re going to take it, you can purchase it under both names, that is, as “ascorbic” or “vitamin C.”

To clear up any doubts, we can say that ascorbic acid is vitamin C. The differences are at the molecular level. Vitamin C is the S-enantiomer of ascorbic acid, acting in the same way in the human body.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to any of the components included in the product.
• Gastritis.
• Peptic ulcer.
• Renal insufficiency.
• Kidney stones.
• Cystinuria.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Bishydroxycoumarin.
• Treatment with anticoagulants.
• Urine, stool, blood tests.

People with diabetes mellitus must control the daily dose; only a low dosage is recommended.

Side effects

• Formation of oxalate kidney stones.
• Hemolytic anemia.
• Bladder irritation.
• Increased urge to urinate.
• Acidification of urine.
• Modification of urine analysis. It is important to indicate that ascorbic acid is being taken so that the results are considered.
• Vomiting.
• Heartburn.
• Insomnia.
• Abdominal cramps.
• Headache.
• Drowsiness.
• Salicylatemia.
• Crystalluria or crystals in the urine.
• Arthritis in very rare cases.

The side effects of ascorbic acid are rare, with the most common being related to stomach discomfort. When administered intravenously, adverse reactions can be more severe, causing dizziness and fainting in some cases.

Excessive supplementation or taking vitamin complexes in excess can lead to undesirable long-term effects such as kidney stone formation. It is usually contraindicated for individuals with a predisposition or existing kidney problems.

Hemolytic anemia is a disease where the patient lacks the necessary amount of red blood cells to carry the oxygen the body needs. Taking a high dose of vitamin C or ascorbic acid for a prolonged period can trigger this disease in people with G6PD deficiency.

Additionally, if you are diabetic, you should monitor false positives. It is possible that if you use glucose-oxidase measurement, errors may occur regarding blood glucose levels. So, it’s important to consider this possibility.

Normally, immediate side effects do not appear with retinoic acid, and long-term effects are usually due to a latent predisposition in the individual.

Where it can be found

We have already indicated where you can obtain it, but if you missed the description, here you can read where ascorbic acid is found. It is also present in dietary supplements and in many fruits and vegetables.

Vegetables are an invaluable source of vitamin C, with citrus fruits, guava, and blackcurrant standing out.

Ascorbic acid in urine

It is quite common to detect ascorbic acid in a urine sample after taking large amounts. Since it is water-soluble, it is very easy to expel it when there is an excess in the body. Ascorbic acid in urine is associated with taking supplements, and when the body satisfies its basic needs, it excretes it through urination, just as happens with other water-soluble vitamins.

The urine may appear darker and have a somewhat stronger odor, but this is not a problem in itself. It simply indicates that there is a higher concentration and that it is more acidic, something that may cause bladder irritation in some people or an increased urge to urinate. Otherwise, in general, there are no contraindications or problems with this.