Vitamin C
Also indexed as: Ascorbate, Ascorbic Acid , C Vitamin
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that has a number of biological functions.
- Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
- Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
- For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.
Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.
For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.
This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions:
| Used for | Amount | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Anemia and Vitamin C Deficiency | 100 to 250 mg once or twice per day |  rating 3Vitamin C deficiency can contribute to anemia, supplementing with this vitamin may restore levels and improve symptoms.Learn More |
| Athletic Performance and Reducing Pain and Speeding Muscle Strength Recovery after Intense Exercise | 400 mg daily for several days before and after intense exercise | rating 3Taking vitamin C for several days before and after intense exercise may reduce pain and speed muscle strength recovery. Learn More |
| Bronchitis | 200 mg daily | rating 3In a double-blind study of elderly patients hospitalized with acute bronchitis, those given vitamin C improved to a significantly greater extent than those who were given a placebo.
Learn More |
| Bruising and Vitamin C Deficiency | 400 to 800 mg daily, with flavonoids | rating 3Vitamin C supplements have been shown to reduce bruising in people with low vitamin C intake.Learn More |
| Capillary Fragility and Vitamin C Deficiency | Treat deficiency with up to 1 gram daily | rating 3In cases of deficiency, vitamin C has been shown to increase capillary strength, in seniors and people with diabetes in particular.Learn More |
| Common Cold and Sore Throat | 1 to 4 grams daily | rating 3Studies have shown that taking vitamin C may make your cold shorter and less severe.Learn More |
| Gingivitis and Vitamin C Deficiency | 300 mg daily | rating 3If you are deficient in vitamin C, supplementing with this vitamin may improve your overall gum health.Learn More |
| Glaucoma | At least 2 grams daily | rating 3Supplementing with vitamin C may help reduce intraocular pressure.Learn More |
| Heart Attack and Vitamin C Deficiency | 100 to 200 mg daily | rating 3Taking vitamin C may reduce heart attack risk and may improve the outcome for people who have already had a heart attack. Learn More |
| High Cholesterol | 1,000 mg daily | rating 3Vitamin C appears to protect LDL cholesterol from damage, and in some trials, cholesterol levels have fallen when people supplement with vitamin C. Learn More |
| Infection | 1 to 4 grams daily | rating 3Vitamin C has antiviral activity, and may help prevent viral infections or, in the case of the common cold, reduce the severity and duration of an infection. Learn More |
| Male Infertility and Sperm Agglutination | 1,000 mg daily | rating 3Vitamin C protects sperm from oxidative damage and keeps sperm from sticking together. Learn More |
| Stress | 1 to 3 grams daily | rating 3Studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin C helps to normalize stress-hormone levels. Learn More |
| Wound Healing | 1 to 3 grams daily | rating 3Taking vitamin C may promote connective tissue repair.Learn More |
| Asthma | 1,000 to 1,500 mg daily |  rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C reduces the tendency of the bronchial passages to go into spasm, an action that has been confirmed in double-blind research.Learn More |
| Atherosclerosis | 250 mg twice per day | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may help reverse the progression of atherosclerosis and protect against heart disease. Learn More |
| Athletic Performance and Vitamin C Deficiency | If deficient: 100 to 200 mg daily | rating 2Antioxidants, including vitamin C, neutralize exercise-related free radicals before they can damage the body, so antioxidants may aid in exercise recovery. Especially in cases of vitamin C deficiency, supplementing with the vitamin may improve exercise performance. Learn More |
| Autism | 1 gram per 20 lbs (9 kg) body weight per day | rating 2In one trial, autistic children given vitamin C had less severe symptoms than those taking placebo, possibly because vitamin C affects a hormone pathway typically disturbed in children with autism.Learn More |
| Cataracts | 500 to 1,000 mg daily | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C, an important nutrient for healthy vision, has been linked with lower risk of developing cataracts.Learn More |
| Female Infertility and Luteal Phase Defect | 750 mg daily | rating 2Vitamin C has been shown to improve fertility in woman with a uterine condition known as luteal phase defect. Learn More |
| Gastritis | 5 grams daily | rating 2Vitamin C may reduce free radical damage in the stomach lining in the case of gastritis caused by the bacteriaH. pylori.Learn More |
| Gout | 0.5 to 8 grams daily | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may reduce the risk of gout attacks, as it appears to help reduce uric acid levels.Learn More |
| Immune Function | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | rating 2Vitamin C stimulates the immune system. While taking it has only a small effect in preventing colds, it does significantly reduce the duration of a cold when taken at the onset.Learn More |
| Influenza | 100 mg daily | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may reduce your flu risk.Learn More |
| Pancreatic Insufficiency | 540 mg daily | rating 2Taking antioxidant supplements, such as vitamin C, may lessen pain and prevent pancreatitis recurrences.Learn More |
| Pre- and Post-Surgery Health and Vitamin C Deficiency | 100 to 250 mg once or twice per day | rating 2Vitamin C supports immune function and is a critical nutrient for wound healing. Supplementing with it may decrease the risk of excessive bleeding in the surgical setting.Learn More |
| Pregnancy and Postpartum Support and Women on Low Vitamin C Diets | 100 mg daily | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C during pregnancy may reduce the risk of premature rupture of membranes (PROM).Learn More |
| Schizophrenia | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | rating 2People with schizophrenia may require more vitamin C than the general population. In one trial, vitamin C reduced hallucinations, suspiciousness, and disorganized thoughts.Learn More |
| Skin Ulcers | 1,000 mg daily | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may help prevent skin ulcers and speed healing. Learn More |
| Sprains and Strains | 250 to 500 mg with meals and at bedtime | rating 2Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, the “glue” that strengthens connective tissue. Vitamin C supplementation can speed healing of various types of trauma.Learn More |
| Type 1 Diabetes | 500 mg twice per day | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may benefit people with type 1 diabetes in several ways, including by reducing sorbitol levels, urinary protein loss, glycosylation, and eye damage. Learn More |
| Type 2 Diabetes | 500 mg twice per day | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may benefit people with type 2 diabetes in several ways, including by reducing sorbitol levels, urinary protein loss, and glycosylation.Learn More |
| Urinary Tract Infection | Refer to label instructions | rating 2Supplementing with vitamin C may treat acute UTIs and help people who are prone to recurrent UTIs.Learn More |
| Age-Related Cognitive Decline | Refer to label instructions |  rating 1Use of vitamin C, alone or with vitamin E, has been associated with better cognitive function and a reduced risk of certain forms of dementia (not including Alzheimer’s disease).Learn More |
| Alcohol Withdrawal | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C appears to help the body rid itself of alcohol. Alcohol-related anxiety may also be improved by a combination of vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacin, and vitamin E, though the high amounts B vitamins studied need a doctor’s supervision.
Learn More |
| Bipolar Disorder | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C helps the body reduce its load of vanadium, a mineral that adversely influences bipolar disorder. It has improved symptoms of depression and mania in some studies.Learn More |
| Childhood Diseases | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C enhances the immune system and may protect against viral infections, including measles and chicken pox.Learn More |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Refer to label instructions | rating 1In one study, people who got more vitamin C from their diet were less likely to be diagnosed with bronchitis, however, vitamin C has not been studied in relation to COPD.Learn More |
| Colon Cancer | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C has been shown to improve precancerous conditions in at-risk people.
Learn More |
| Ear Infections | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Supplementing with vitamin C stimulates the immune system and may help prevent ear infections. Learn More |
| Eczema | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C might be beneficial in treating eczema by affecting the immune system.Learn More |
| Gallstones | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C is needed for the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids and may help reduce symptoms of gallstones.Learn More |
| Halitosis, Gingivitis, and Vitamin C Deficiency | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C is often recommended by doctors to help prevent and treat periodontitis.Learn More |
| Hay Fever | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C has antihistamine activity, and supplementing with it has been reported to help people with hay fever.Learn More |
| Heart Attack | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C has been reported to protect blood vessels from problems associated with heart attack risk in a variety of ways.Learn More |
| Hepatitis | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C has been shown to be effective at preventing hepatitis infection in people receiving blood transfusions and at treating viral hepatitis.Learn More |
| HIV and AIDS Support | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C has been shown to inhibit HIV replication in test tubes. Supplementing with it may improve resistance to infection, reduce risk of progression to AIDS, and improve well-being.Learn More |
| Hives | Refer to label instructions | rating 1High amounts of vitamin C might help people with hives by lowering histamine levels. Learn More |
| Hypertension | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Some doctors recommend that people with hypertenstion supplement with vitamin C, which has been found to have a blood pressure–lowering effect.Learn More |
| Hypoglycemia | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C helps control blood sugar levels in diabetics, and since there are similarities in the way the body regulates high and low blood sugar levels, it might be helpful for hypoglycemia as well.Learn More |
| Leukoplakia | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Studies have shown vitamin C, in combination with beta-carotene and vitamin E, to be an effective treatment for leukoplakia. Learn More |
| Low Back Pain | Refer to label instructions | rating 1A preliminary report suggested that vitamin C helped many people avoid surgery for their disc-related low back pain.Learn More |
| Macular Degeneration | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Sunlight triggers oxidative damage in the eye, which in turn can cause macular degeneration. Vitamin C protects against oxidative damage and may reduce macular degeneration risk.Learn More |
| Menopause | Refer to label instructions | rating 1A combination of vitamin C and the flavonoid hesperidin were reported to relieve hot flashes in menopausal women.Learn More |
| Menorrhagia | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C protects capillaries (small blood vessels) from damage. In so doing, it might protect against the blood loss of menorrhagia. Learn More |
| Morning Sickness | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin K and vitamin C, taken together, may provide relief of morning sickness symptoms for some women. Learn More |
| Peptic Ulcer | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C may be useful in treating peptic ulcers because of its ability to help eradicate H. pyloriLearn More |
| Prostatitis | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C inhibits the growth of E.coliLearn More |
| Sickle Cell Anemia | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Sickle cell anemia patients tend to have low levels of antioxidants, which protect cells from oxygen-related damage. Supplementing with vitamin C may help correct a deficiency.Learn More |
| Sinusitis | 2,000 mg per day of hydroxyethylrutosides | rating 1In one study, vitamin C supplementation reduced levels of histamine, which contributes to nasal and sinus congestion, in people with either high histamine levels or low vitamin C levels. Learn More |
| Tardive Dyskinesia | Refer to label instructions | rating 1In some studies, taking vitamin C along with other nutrients appeared to prevent the development of tardive dyskinesiaLearn More |
| Vitiligo | Refer to label instructions | rating 1Vitamin C has been shown to be effective at skin repigmentation in people with vitiligo.Learn More |
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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2010.