What is the effect of ascorbic acid. Features of the use of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid for the face

When scientists discovered ascorbic acid in the twenties of the last century, they had high hopes for the compound. And they weren't wrong. Vitamin C has brought many benefits to mankind. And at the same time, almost no one guessed what an overdose threatened.

After much research, it became clear that ascorbic acid is beneficial and harmful to people at the same time. Let's find out what's what.

What is harmful ascorbic acid

Yes, that's what we used to call flat white tablets or round yellow dragees. Remember how desirable they were in childhood. And, having found the treasured bubble at home, who refused to gobble up several things at once? So how could we hurt ourselves?

Ascorbic acid itself is harmless. Its overdose brings unpleasant consequences. And only when using a synthetic product (injections or tablets). Excess vitamin found in fruits and vegetables is almost completely excreted by the body.

So, the harm of ascorbic acid:

It greatly increases blood clotting. Therefore, there is a high risk of blockage of all vessels with large and small blood clots. Who has not heard the terrible word blood clot?
Excess ascorbic acid causes severe pain in the stomach. There may be heartburn, pain, nausea. Because acid quickly corrodes the walls of the stomach.
Promotes the formation of sand and stones in the kidneys. This is with regular overdose.
The work of the pancreas is disrupted.
An excess of ascorbic acid disrupts the metabolism in pregnant women. And this is fraught with unpleasant consequences for the unborn child. He may already be born with allergies.
An allergic reaction may occur.

Who benefits from ascorbic acid

However, despite all the unpleasant moments described above, the beneficial properties of ascorbic acid are simply invaluable. Naturally, only a qualified specialist can accurately prescribe the dosage necessary for the correct effect.

So, the benefits of ascorbic acid:

Recovery. Vitamin C takes an active part in the synthesis of collagen fibers. Thanks to him, cuts and wounds heal faster. Bones grow together much better if you take ascorbic acid.
Hematopoiesis. No, of course not directly. But helping the absorption of iron in the body, ascorbic acid is indirectly related to the synthesis of hemoglobin.
Immunity boost. This is due to the fact that ascorbic acid helps the body produce antibodies. Therefore, vitamin C is the first remedy for flu and colds.
Participation in metabolism. Ascorbic acid enhances the action of essential vitamins (A, E), which allows you to bring the metabolism to an almost ideal state.
Vessel cleansing. Recently, everyone has known terrible cholesterol. But for those who like to indulge in ascorbic acid, he is not afraid. Vitamin C significantly strengthens the walls of blood vessels, making them strong and elastic. And, like a stiff brush, it cleans all the plaques and blockages from the cardiovascular system.
Help with poisoning. Ascorbic acid has the ability to bind and remove free radicals and heavy metals from the body. Therefore, it is often prescribed for many types of food poisoning.

And yet, oddly enough, without ascorbic acid, all cartilage in the body becomes brittle and crumbling. Remember what old heavy smokers look like. They have a haggard appearance, plus it is very difficult for them to move around.

This is because one smoked cigarette neutralizes about 25 mg of vitamin C in the human body. And without it, the normal absorption of other vitamins and the good work of the cartilaginous body of the joints are impossible.

As you can see, the benefits of ascorbic acid are incomparably great in some cases. And the harm is often obtained only from excessive use.

How to understand that there is not enough vitamin C

There are several external signs by which it can be determined that there is an acute shortage of ascorbic acid in the human body. These include:

constant pain in the feet and heels
general malaise similar to flu-like symptoms
wounds and cuts do not heal for a long time
pale skin
incomprehensible anxiety and disturbing dream
loose teeth, bleeding gums
general weakening of the immune system, a tendency to colds

But, it should be noted that only external signs are not enough. For an accurate diagnosis, you need to contact a qualified specialist. Because the signs listed above can be symptoms of serious diseases, and not just a lack of vitamin C. And you certainly can’t self-medicate by simply eating ascorbic acid. In some cases, a vitamin supplement can be not only useless, but even more harmful.

Is it possible to take ascorbic acid with medicines

Some doctors are categorically against such a combination of drugs. And yet, the vast majority of doctors allow you to combine drugs and ascorbic acid in simultaneous use. But, with a certain reservation. It is forbidden to take vitamin C with medicines containing:

folic acid
iron
caffeine
B vitamins

More detailed information can always be found in the instructions for use of the drug.

What to do if the child ate a lot of ascorbic acid

Remember, at the beginning of the article, we recalled how in childhood we often tried to get hold of the treasured bubble? What should you do if your child succeeds?

Do not panic. Ascorbic acid is not a poison. Therefore, without tantrums, scare the child. Try gastric lavage first. As usual - warm water and vomiting. After cleansing, give the child any adsorbent that is in the home first aid kit. And make sure you drink plenty of pure water. The first will absorb excess vitamin C, the second will help the body remove ascorbic acid residues. The most common way is through the toilet.

Interesting facts about ascorbic acid

Did you know that you can't stop drinking vitamin C abruptly? It is necessary to gradually reduce the dosage so that the body learns to cope without the tablet form. Otherwise, you can provoke some unpleasant types of recoil of the body. For example, susceptibility to certain diseases may appear.

By the way, many doctors in the world have recognized that regular intake of competent doses of ascorbic acid significantly reduces the risk of cancer. But it doesn't completely rule it out.

Of course, ideally, this vitamin should be supplied to the human body with food. Then there will be no need for additional reception. But, who knows how to accurately calculate the dose for currant berries or slices of bell pepper? Besides, where to get good fresh fruits and vegetables in winter? After all, they are the main natural source of ascorbic acid.

No, canned and frozen will not work. They contain very little vitamin C. Therefore, doctors strongly recommend taking pharmacy vitamin preparations at least in the cold season.

Now you know what role ascorbic acid plays in the human body. You also know the benefits and harms. Therefore, do not eat handfuls of vitamins and do not feed children without the advice of a competent specialist.

Video: what happens if you eat a lot of ascorbic acid

Part dragee includes ascorbic acid, starch syrup, sugar, talc, light mineral oil, yellow wax, dye E104 (quinoline yellow), orange flavor flavor.

Compound r/ra for intravenous and intramuscular administration: ascorbic acid (0.05 g / ml or 0.1 g / ml), sodium bicarbonate and sulfite, carbonated water for injection.

The composition of the tablets includes ascorbic acid, dextrose, sugar, potato starch, additive E470 (calcium stearate), flavoring (strawberry/raspberry/cranberry/wild berries).

Chewable tablets contain ascorbic acid, refined sugar, magnesium stearate, , microcrystalline cellulose, orange flavor, hypromellose, sunset yellow E110 or beta-carotene.

Release form

Dragees packaged in 50, 100 or 200 pieces. in vials of polymeric materials / glass jars or 10 pieces in blister packs, 5 packs in a carton box.
R/r for intravenous and intramuscular administration of 5 and 10% in 1, 2 and 5 ml ampoules, 10 ampoules in a cardboard box.
Lyophilizate for the preparation of r/ra for i/v and i/m administration. Dosage 0.05 g. The drug is available in ampoules, 5 ampoules in a pack of cardboard complete with a solvent (water for injection - 2 ml).
Powder for the preparation of r / ra for per os. Dosage 1 and 2.5 g; sold in paper bags, laminated with PE.
Tablets packaged in 50 pcs. in glass jars.
Chewable tablets in pack #30.

pharmachologic effect

Vitamin preparation . Ascorbic acid in its purest form.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

The drug has activity vitamin C. It has a metabolic effect, regulates oxidation-reduction reactions and hydrogen transport in a large number of biochemical reactions, improves the use of glucose in the citrate cycle, accelerates tissue regeneration, takes part in the formation of H4-folate, collagen and steroid hormones .

Maintains the normal permeability of capillary walls and the colloidal state of the extracellular matrix. Activates proteases, participates in metabolism , pigments and aromatic amino acids, promotes the deposition of glycogen in the liver.

Due to the activation of liver cytochromes, it increases its protein-forming and detoxifying activity, as well as the synthesis prothrombin . Restores endocrine function schthyroid gland and exocrine pancreatic , stimulates separation bile .

Regulates immunological reactivity (activates the production , antibodies, components of the C3 complement system), promotes phagocytosis and strengthening .

Renders antiallergic action and stops inflammatory processes. Inhibits the production of mediators anaphylaxis and inflammation (including prostaglandins ), slows down the ejection histamine and accelerates its degradation.

Because in the human body vitamin C is not produced, its insufficient amount in food provokes hypo- and beriberi C .

The daily norm for men is 0.07-0.1 g, for women - 0.08 g. During pregnancy, the need increases to 0.1 g, during lactation - up to 0.12 g. Children and adolescents, depending on age, should take 0.03 to 0.07 g of vitamin C.

Absorbed in the small intestine: when taking less than 0.2 g, about 2/3 of the dose is absorbed; with increasing dose, absorption decreases to 50-20%.

The concentration of ascorbic acid when taken per os reaches a maximum after 4 hours.

The substance easily penetrates into and , and later - in all tissues; deposited in the adrenal cortex, posterior lobe , intestinal walls, muscle tissue, brain, ovaries, interstitial cells of the seminal glands, eye epithelium, spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and thyroid glands, heart.

Biotransformirovatsya mainly in the liver.

Ascorbate and its metabolites ( diketogulonic and oxaloacetic acid ) are excreted in urine and intestinal contents, and are also excreted in breast milk and sweat gland secretions.

Indications for use

The use of the drug is advisable for:

The antioxidant properties of ascorbic acid are used in the treatment , , infectious and alcoholic delirium, diffuse connective tissue lesions (SLE, , scleroderma ), overdose of anticoagulants, intoxication with barbiturates, sulfonamides, benzene, aniline, methyl alcohol, anestezin, carbon monoxide, dichloroethane, disulfiram, hydrocyanic acid, potassium permanganate, phenols, thallium, arsenic, , aconite.

The drug is also indicated during the recovery period after diseases and surgical interventions.

Intravenously and intramuscularly Ascorbic acid in ampoules is administered in situations where it is necessary to quickly replenish the deficiency vitamin C , as well as in situations where oral administration is not possible.

In particular, parenteral administration is required for Addison's disease , a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (under conditions, after resection of a section of the small intestine and gastrectomy , persistent diarrhea , peptic ulcer ).

Contraindications

Absolute contraindications:

hypersensitivity;
complicated and thrombophlebitis diseases of the veins .

Conditions in which Ascorbic acid is prescribed with caution:

fructose intolerance;
kidney disease (particularly urolithiasis - when using more than 1 g per day);
hemochromatosis ;
thalassemia ;
progressive neoplastic diseases ;
sideroblastic and sickle cell anemia ;
polycythemia ;
deficiency of the cytosolic enzyme G6PD.

In pediatrics, the restriction to the use of ascorbic acid dragees is the age of up to 4 years for. Tablets are prescribed from the age of six. Chewable tablets are not used in pediatric practice.

Side effects

From the side of the heart, vascular and hematopoietic systems: neutrophilic leukocytosis , thrombocytosis , erythropenia , hyperprothrombinemia .

From the sensory organs and the nervous system: weakness and dizziness (with too rapid administration of ascorbic acid in / in).

From the digestive tract: when taken orally - (when taking more than 1 g / day), irritation of the mucosa of the digestive canal, accompanied by nausea, diarrhea , vomiting, erosion of tooth enamel (with frequent use of tablets for chewing or resorption of dragees / tablets).

Metabolic disorders: violation of the course of metabolic processes, inhibition of production glycogen , over-education adrenosteroids , water retention and Na, hypokalemia .

From the urogenital tract: an increase , the formation of oxalate stones (especially with long-term use of more than 1 g per day), damage glomerular apparatus of the kidneys .

When injected into a muscle, pain at the injection site is possible, injection into a vein may be accompanied by a feeling of heat.

The substance is a strong allergen and can provoke hypersensitivity reactions even in cases where the person does not exceed the recommended daily dose.

Stocks vitamin C depleted with prolonged intake of calcium chloride, drugs quinoline series , salicylates , corticosteroids .

Solution A.K. interacts with most drugs when mixed in one syringe.

Terms of sale

A prescription is required to purchase the solution. The remaining forms of release are dispensed without a prescription.

An example of a recipe in Latin for a 5% solution:
Sol. Acidi ascorbinici 5% - 1 ml
D.t.d. N.10 in amp.
S. Intramuscularly 1 ml 2 times a day.

Recipe in Latin for the tablet form of the drug:
Acidi ascorbinici 0.05
D.t.d. No. 50 in tabl.
S. 2 tablets. 3 times a day after meals

Storage conditions

Ascorbic acid should be stored in a light-protected, hard-to-reach place for children at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.

Best before date

The solution is considered suitable for use within a year, dragees - within one and a half years after the date of issue. Shelf life for powder, lyophilisate and chewable tablets is 2 years. Ascorbic acid in tablets retains pharmacological properties for 3 years.

special instructions

Wikipedia states that vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is an organic compound related to glucose. Its benefits for the human body are enormous - the vitamin performs the function of a coenzyme of a number of metabolic processes, an antioxidant and a reducing agent.

According to the International Pharmacopoeia, the substance has the form of an almost white or white crystalline powder with a sour taste. Easily soluble in water, soluble in ethanol (about 750 g/l) TS, practically insoluble in other organic solvents Practically insoluble powder. Belongs to the category of antiscorbutic drugs.

Vitamin C in solution is quickly destroyed by air; even in a light-protected place, it is gradually destroyed in a humid atmosphere. The rate of destruction increases with increasing temperature.

Ascorbic acid is present in all tissues of higher plants and animals. Man, unlike most animals, in the process of evolution, due to mutation, has lost the ability to independently synthesize vitamin C and gets it exclusively from food.

OKPD code for ascorbic acid ( vitamin C ) - 24.41.51.180. For the food industry, the substance is obtained in accordance with GOST 4815-76.

Quantification of a substance

Methods for the quantitative determination of A.k. based on its pronounced restorative properties.

The simplest, most objective and accurate method is the method of determination based on the ability of A. to. reduce ferric ions to ferrous ions.

The amount of Fe2+ ions formed is equimolar to the amount of A.c. in the analyzed sample (the minimum amount of A.K. in the sample is 10 nmol) and is determined by a color reaction with potassium ferricyanide.

What is ascorbic acid for?

The substance is involved in the processes of biotransformation of other , education , as well as education and exchange and norepinephrine in the medulla adrenal glands , supplies hydrogen for the formation of nuclear DNA, reduces the body's need for B-group vitamins , increases the immunobiological resistance of the body, affects the activity leukocytes ; improving the absorption of Fe, thereby enhancing the synthesis hemoglobin and maturation erythrocytes , neutralizes toxins released by pathogenic microflora, accelerates the healing of wounds and postoperative sutures and the healing of fractures.

Ascorbic acid in the urine is an important indicator of the health of the body. Small amount vitamin C in urine may indicate a malfunction of the internal organs or the development of a tumor process. An increased concentration of ascorbic acid can signal an imbalance in the diet and the likelihood of kidney stones.

Daily excretion rate vitamin C urine - 0.03 g. When diagnosing such an indicator, we can conclude that a person receives a sufficient amount of ascorbic acid, and his body works optimally.

How many calories are in ascorbic acid?

100 grams of the product contains 0.1 g of fat, 0.1 g of protein and 95.78 g of carbohydrates. This amount of carbohydrates allows you to compensate for more than a third (namely, 35% *) of the daily requirement for them.

*The average value of the nutritional value of products from different sources is given. The data may differ from the actual data depending on the origin of a particular product. The value is given for a diet that involves the use of 2 thousand kcal per day.

Calorie content of 100 grams of the product is 970 kJ or 231.73 kcal.

Why is ascorbic acid useful in cosmetology?

In cosmetology, ascorbic acid is used as part of drugs that slow down aging, restore protective functions and accelerate healing.

The easiest way to apply vitamin C for hair - add powder (crushed tablet) or solution to a single portion of shampoo or hair mask. Ascorbic acid should be added to care products immediately before their use.

Such simple procedures allow you to restore the structure of the hair, prevent hair loss, and also make the hair soft and shiny.

For the face, ascorbic acid is most often used in powder form. Before the procedure, the powder (or crushed tablets) is mixed with mineral water to make a thick slurry. The product is applied for 20 minutes on the face and then washed off.

Useful for the face and daily rubbing diluted with mineral water in a ratio of 1: 1 with a solution of ascorbic acid. You can also add the solution/powder to homemade masks.

Why is ascorbic acid useful for athletes?

Vitamin C is a stimulator of muscle mass anabolism, which makes it appropriate to use it in bodybuilding. In addition, scientists were able to prove that by suppressing the process of peroxidation and secretion cortisol he also provides anti-catabolic effect . Thus, the reception vitamin C before training will protect the muscles and slow down the breakdown of protein.

Upon completion of the course anabolic steroids ascorbic acid is taken as a component of PCT (post cycle therapy).

Ascorbic acid to induce menstruation

High doses vitamin C impede admission progesterone into the uterus, so Ascorbic acid is often taken with a delay in menstruation.

However, doctors do not advise to abuse this method. Firstly, the repeated use of ascorbic acid can cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Secondly, taking pills can make it difficult to diagnose the causes of a menstrual cycle failure and further treatment.

Precautionary measures

Too rapid intravenous administration of ascorbic acid solution should be avoided. If necessary, long-term use of the drug requires monitoring of blood pressure, kidney function, glucose levels.

Ascorbic acid changes the results of laboratory tests.

Analogues

Additive Vitamin C , Asvitol , Ascovit , Vitamin C , Vitamin C-injectopas , Rostvit , Setebe 500 , Cevicap , Celascon Vitamin C , Citravit , (+ Ascorbic acid).

For weight loss

Ascorbic acid does not reduce the amount of subcutaneous fat and cannot eliminate the consequences of an unbalanced diet and an inactive lifestyle, so it is not advisable to use it as an independent means for losing weight.

However, vitamin C is by no means an unnecessary addition to the diet of losing weight, because it helps to strengthen the immune system, improve overall well-being in chronic diseases and faster muscle recovery after physical exertion.

Can Ascorbic Acid be Pregnant?

The minimum need for ascorbic acid during pregnancy is approximately 0.06 g / day. (in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters). It is important to consider that the fetus can adapt to higher doses taken by a woman. vitamin C . This can result in withdrawal syndrome in the newborn.

According to the FDA classification, injectable forms of ascorbic acid belong to group C on a scale of possible risks to the fetus. The introduction of the solution can be prescribed to a pregnant woman only in case of emergency.

The use of high doses vitamin C for intravenous administration during pregnancy may cause miscarriage.

The minimum requirement during breastfeeding is 0.08 g / day. Theoretically, there are certain risks for the child if a nursing woman uses too high doses vitamin C .

Everyone knows from childhood that it is very important for a person to take vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It is (like glucose) one of the main and very important vitamins for health. It is involved in almost all biochemical processes of the human body. Ascorbic acid helps in the formation of lymphocytes that destroy infected cells and keeps white blood cells ready to fight infections. What else is useful ascorbic acid?

Where did our ancestors get acid?

Nature has more than provided ascorbic acid to maintain the health of children and adults. Any of us will be able to use its reserves.

Ascorbic acid is found in rose hips. Why is this fragrant tea tea bad for us? Blackcurrant berries are a storehouse of this vitamin. Another source of ascorbic acid is sea buckthorn. We buy white cabbage in stores, but we rarely make salads from fresh vegetables. I wonder what's stopping you? Honeysuckle berries - the very first summer berries - why don't they stand on our tables? Sour, dirty hands, and then the tongue is blue from honeysuckle?

Citrus fruits are lucky: lemons, oranges are frequent guests in our fruit vases. Let's at least put parsley on the table! But no, you won’t find it again: the greens on our tables have been replaced with gluconates, they give an attractive color, sharpen the taste (add addiction and addiction here). Here is a partial list of foods that contain vitamin C - ascorbic acid. By the way, vitamin as a dietary supplement is referred to as E300.

What does this vitamin do?

This vitamin is simply vital for us. It promotes cell growth and repair. It is important for cleansing blood vessels from plaques and toxins. Helps to absorb iron in the body. Without it, various kinds of diseases are delayed, recovery is slower. Ascorbic acid relieves inflammation and infection especially well, since the vitamin triggers immune defense processes in the body. It is useful to use ascorbic acid in the off-season, when colds and other acute respiratory viral diseases are so common.

By the way, it is important to remember that the vitamin is easily destroyed by smog, light and heat. Knowing this and taking into account the peculiarities of ascorbic acid, it is worth taking care of replenishing stocks yourself or the correct use of the necessary products. That is, you should not keep vegetables, fruits and berries in the light or, after cutting, leave them for a long time. Heat treatment should be short. Sometimes you just need to steam or blanch some foods.

Daily dosage of vitamin

Of course, each person has their own dose. It is necessary to take into account age, place of residence, diet, ecology, purity of water and air, bad habits, pregnancy or other special periods (menopause, adolescence). During the off-season (spring, autumn) it is very useful to use ascorbic acid. With dampness and slush, infections and bacteria are easily transmitted by airborne droplets. And if your immunity is weak, then the body may not be able to cope with the pressure of the disease.

On average, the daily dose can be up to one hundred milligrams per day. Thus, you need to use half a glass of white powder with a sour taste. But which one of us does it?

Ascorbic acid during pregnancy is generally very necessary. For young and future mothers, the dosage should be increased by a quarter, since the future baby must also receive all the vitamins (by the way, the baby can “get” this vitamin from the mother’s bones).

Harm from growth vitamin

Why ascorbic acid is useful is understandable. But is everything so harmless and useful? You understand that nature loves when everything is in moderation. If you take this drug in large doses and constantly, and then stop taking it, then this is fraught with the fact that the body will no longer absorb glucose. This is one of the provoking factors of diabetes. Stones can form in the kidneys and bladder. For children, ascorbic acid can cause damage to tooth enamel. The disease of scurvy, by the way, is directly related to this.

How can an overdose of ascorbic acid be determined? You will feel a slight dizziness, a rash may appear, pain in the abdomen, and insomnia is possible.

But with a lack of ascorbic acid on the skin, you can see peeling, frequent infectious diseases, bruises on the body may occur.

In any case, you can not self-medicate. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any unpleasant or unusual symptoms. In general, it is better to consult with a local therapist even about the selection of an individual vitamin complex, and not take any vitamins uncontrollably on your own.

How to take vitamin C

In our country, the drug can be easily bought at any pharmacy without restrictions. Before the children start buying these little yellow rounds, explain both the benefits and harms of them. Themselves, too, adhere to the advice of a doctor and annotations that accompany the vitamin.

That's how useful ascorbic acid (pellets) is. Instructions for use of this drug are as follows:

If you play sports or have an active lifestyle, hard labor-intensive work (for example, in a factory or on night shifts), the dose may be 150-200 mg.
If you are just pursuing preventive goals, then about 120 mg is enough for you.
Children of ascorbic acid are recommended only up to 60 mg.
If we are treating any disease, the intake is increased to two tablets 4 times a day.

It is also necessary to remember that ascorbic acid is an acid, which means that it can irritate the walls of the stomach, leading to corresponding diseases. To avoid unpleasant symptoms and illnesses, it is necessary that ascorbic acid (pellets) be taken after meals according to the instructions. In addition, it is then that the vitamin begins to be absorbed into the blood faster.

What to do with an overabundance of vitamins?

In case of an overdose of ascorbic acid, you should consult a doctor, and urgently. But what if it's not possible yet? Follow these tips:

Be aware that acid is rapidly absorbed and gastric lavage will not help even if large volumes of water are used.
It is best to take the patient to the hospital.
To relieve pain, drugs are needed that help the gastric mucosa.
Is there a medicine that can resist ascorbic acid? There are no such antidotes. Although other vitamins can improve the condition a little. We repeat - do not treat yourself, no one will help you better than a doctor.

What if you are over 50?

What is useful ascorbic acid for the elderly? We all understand that with age, the body is less useful. Heart attacks occur just when there is a lack of this vitamin. With age, vision deteriorates, and the risk of cataracts increases. Wrinkles appear on the face, pallor, dryness, peeling appear on the skin. Small hemorrhages may appear on the body.

But if the vitamin in the body is in sufficient quantity, then the cell membranes are strong, the capillaries are strong. There are processes of strengthening the ligaments that connect the bones of the body. For even more effective absorption into the blood, ascorbic acid in injections can be prescribed by your doctor.

Is ascorbic acid in tablets useful?

A few decades ago, no one heard about ascorbic acid. And today, many people use these vitamins. But statistics say that many modern people are sorely lacking in vitamin C.

The fact is that a synthetic vitamin is very different from a natural one in structure and even harms the human body.

The artificial species consists of one isomer, and the natural species consists of seven. Natural vitamin C is easily recognized by the human body and easily absorbed. His chemically created counterpart, on the contrary, is rejected and excreted (far from all) through the genitourinary system, harming the human body.

So, what is useful ascorbic acid, what is harmful, how to take it, you now know. Take care of yourself and be healthy!

All mothers know about the usefulness of vitamin C, so attention is paid to its entry into the child's body from birth, making up a rational menu for the baby. If it is not possible to provide the child with a sufficient amount of ascorbic acid with food, they resort to vitamin supplements. From what age is it permissible to give pharmacy preparations with vitamin C to prevent its deficiency, and for what diseases are they needed in childhood?

Release form

Ascorbic acid is produced:

In tablets. Such round tablets may be white, pink, orange or other colors depending on the formulation. They include 25 mg or 100 mg of ascorbic acid, but also produce a preparation with 50 mg, 75 mg, 300 mg or 500 mg of such a vitamin compound. One pack contains 10, 50 or 100 tablets.
In dragee. Often these are small spherical yellow vitamins. Each dragee contains 50 mg of the vitamin. One package contains 50, 100, 150 or 200 dragees.
In ampoules. This form of ascorbic acid is intended for intravenous or intramuscular injection. This is a 5% or 10% clear solution, poured into ampoules with a capacity of 1 or 2 ml. One package includes 5 or 10 ampoules.
In powder. A solution is prepared from it, which must be taken orally. The powder is colorless or white crystals that have no odor. It is packaged in bags of 1 or 2.5 g. One pack contains from 5 to 100 such bags.

Ascorbic acid is available with various flavors and is very popular with children.

Compound

The powder form contains only ascorbic acid. In tablets and dragees, in addition to the main substance, there may be sucrose, wax, calcium stearate, dye, dextrose, starch, lactose, talc, crospovidone and other auxiliary ingredients. In the injectable form, in addition to vitamin C, water, sulfite and sodium bicarbonate, cysteine, disodium edetate may be present.

Operating principle

Once in the body, ascorbic acid has the following effect:

Normalizes the permeability of small vessels.
Protects cells and tissues from toxic substances (antioxidant effect).
Strengthens the defenses, preventing viral infections and colds by activating the formation of antibodies and interferon.
Helps absorb glucose.
It has a positive effect on the functions of the liver.
Regulates blood clotting.
Accelerates the healing of damaged skin.
Participates in the formation of collagen.
Helps absorb iron and folic acid.
Activates digestive enzymes, improves bile secretion, pancreas and thyroid function.
It reduces the manifestations of allergies and inflammation by inhibiting the formation of mediators involved in these pathological processes.

How vitamin C affects the body and what are the indications and contraindications for the use of ascorbic acid - see in a short video:

Indications

If his diet is unbalanced and there is a risk of hypovitaminosis.
During the active growth of the child's body.
To prevent SARS. This reason is relevant in autumn, in winter cold and in early spring.
If the child has increased emotional or physical stress.
If the baby is recovering from an injury or surgical treatment.

For therapeutic purposes, vitamin C preparations are prescribed:

With diagnosed hypovitaminosis C.
With hemorrhagic diathesis.
For nose and other bleeding.
With infectious diseases or intoxications.
With excessive use for a long time of iron preparations.
With acute radiation sickness.
With anemia.
With hepatic pathologies.
With colitis, peptic ulcer, enteritis or achilia.
With cholecystitis.
With sluggish healing of burns, ulcers or wounds on the skin.
With bone fractures.
With dystrophy.
With helminthiasis.
With chronic dermatoses and some other skin diseases.

At what age can you give?

It is impossible to give preparations with ascorbic acid to a one-year-old child. Tablets containing 25 mg of ascorbic acid are prescribed from 3 years of age. Dragee with a vitamin content in a dose of 50 mg is prescribed for children over 5 years of age.

Such age restrictions are associated with difficulties in swallowing the drug at an early age, as well as the risk of inhaling the dragee. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe vitamin C earlier, but this should not be done on its own. Even when the child is already 3 years old or more, it is worth consulting with a pediatrician about the use of such a vitamin.

Contraindications

Instructions for use prohibit ascorbic acid in such cases:

If the patient has an intolerance to such a vitamin.
If there is a tendency to thrombosis or thrombophlebitis is detected.
If the child has diabetes (for forms with sugar).
If the blood test showed too high a level of hemoglobin.
If a small patient is diagnosed with severe renal pathology.

A child younger than one year old cannot take vitamin C tablets and dragees.

Side effects

Sometimes the child's body reacts to the intake of ascorbic acid with an allergy. These are often skin changes that are manifested by redness, itching, rashes.

Vitamin C treatment can also lead to:

Thrombocytosis, erythropenia, leukocytosis due to neutrophils.
Weakness and dizziness (if injected too quickly into a vein).
Diarrhea (at high dosage).
Nausea or vomiting.
Damage to tooth enamel (with prolonged resorption in the mouth).
Fluid and sodium retention.
Formation of oxalate stones in the urinary tract (with prolonged use of high doses).
Violation of metabolic processes.
Kidney damage.
Soreness at the injection site (if administered intramuscularly).

Sometimes children have an allergy to vitamin C, which is manifested by rashes on various parts of the body.

Instructions for use and dosage

Ascorbic acid tablets with glucose or dragees are offered to a child after meal.
Prophylactic dose for babies 3-10 years old, it is represented by 1 tablet containing 25 mg of the vitamin, and at the age of over ten years, this daily dosage is increased to two tablets (50 mg per day).
Therapeutic dose is 2 tablets of 25 mg of ascorbic acid per day at the age of up to 10 years (daily dose of 50 mg) and three to four tablets of the drug over the age of 10 years (daily dosage of 75-100 mg).
Ascorbic acid is recommended to be taken prophylactically two weeks to two months. The duration of the treatment course is determined by the doctor.
If the dosage of the active substance in a tablet is 100 mg, then such ascorbic acid is given at a dose of 1/2 tablet per day to children over 6 years of age.
Dragees are given for prevention to children over five years old, 1 piece per day, and for treatment - 1-2 tablets up to 3 times a day.
Only a doctor should prescribe Ascorbic acid to children in injections. The daily dosage is 1-2 ml of the drug, but a more accurate dose, method of administration and duration of therapy should be determined by a specialist, taking into account the disease in a particular child.

Overdose

Since ascorbic acid is a water-soluble compound, hypervitaminosis does not develop with an overestimated dosage of this vitamin. However, excessively high doses of such a substance can damage the lining of the stomach and intestines, which leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, vomiting and other negative symptoms.

Also, poisoning with a very large amount of vitamin C is manifested by weakness, sweating, hot flashes, insomnia, headaches. In addition, an excess of this substance will reduce capillary permeability, which will worsen tissue nutrition, increase blood pressure and can lead to hypercoagulability.

So that ascorbic acid does not cause malaise, you should be aware of the maximum recommended dosages of such a vitamin:

For children under 3 years old, this is 400 mg per day.
For a child aged 4 to 8 years, the maximum dose per day is 600 mg.
For children 9 to 13 years of age, do not exceed 1200 mg per day.
At the age of over 14 years, the permissible maximum of ascorbic acid per day is 1800 mg of this vitamin.

Watch an informative video that tells what can happen if you allow an excess of vitamin C in the body:

Interaction with other drugs

The use of ascorbic acid will increase the blood levels of penicillin and tetracycline antibiotics, as well as salicylates.
With the joint intake of vitamin C and acetylsalicylic acid, the absorption of ascorbic acid worsens. The same effect is observed if ascorbic acid is washed down with an alkaline liquid or fresh juice.
Simultaneous use with anticoagulants will reduce their therapeutic effect.
Taking vitamin C along with iron preparations promotes better absorption of Fe in the intestine. If you prescribe ascorbic acid and deferoxamine, iron toxicity will increase, which will negatively affect the heart and its work.
It is not recommended to mix the injectable form of vitamin C in one syringe with any drugs, since many drugs enter into chemical reactions with ascorbic acid.
With simultaneous treatment with barbiturates, the excretion of ascorbic acid in the urine increases.

Terms of sale

You do not need a prescription to buy Ascorbic Acid in pharmacies. The price of 10 ampoules of 2 ml with a 5% solution of ascorbic acid is about 40 rubles. A jar of 50 mg vitamin C dragees costs 20-25 rubles, and a pack of 25 mg tablets containing glucose costs about 10-20 rubles.

Ascorbic acid can be bought not only at the pharmacy, but often at the checkout in the supermarket

Storage conditions and shelf life

The place where Ascorbic Acid should be placed for better preservation should not be very humid, hot or lit. In addition, you need to keep the drug where small children will not get to it.

The shelf life of tablets with ascorbic acid is 1-3 years from different manufacturers, a 5% solution for injections is stored for up to a year, a 10% solution and dragees - 18 months from the date of issue.

Reviews

Parents generally speak well of ascorbic acid preparations. Sweet ascorbic acid is liked by children and is considered by most adults to be a useful supplement, especially during the cold season. Moms are attracted by the ability of such a medicine to prevent ARVI, strengthen the immune system and blood vessels. In their reviews, they also praise Ascorbic Acid for its pleasant taste, low cost and availability in pharmacies.

The disadvantages of such a drug in most reviews are not called. Only in some children, Ascorbic acid causes allergies, but a greater number of young patients tolerate the drug well.

Analogues

Ascorbic acid for children in tablets, dragees or injectable form can be replaced by other drugs that can compensate for the lack of vitamin C or prevent hypovitaminosis. These include:

Asvitol. The drug is represented by vitamin C in tablets (25-50 mg) and chewable tablets (200 mg).
Ascovit. Such vitamin C is produced in powder (packaged in 1 g sachets), from which a drink with green tea and hibiscus flavor or orange flavor is prepared. Also, this drug is produced in effervescent tablets of 500 or 1000 mg of ascorbic acid with orange and lemon flavors.

Probably everyone knows about the benefits of vitamins for our health. These elements take an active part in the activity of all parts of our body, and their insufficient intake or improper absorption is fraught with the occurrence of a variety of disorders, including quite serious diseases. One of the most important vitamin substances for our body is vitamin C. Fortunately, cases of its total beriberi are rare now, but each of us can face a slight shortage of this element. And if it is necessary to saturate the body with such a substance, many people who buy vitamin C in a pharmacy sometimes see the inscription “ascorbic acid” on the package, and therefore they are interested: is ascorbic acid and vitamin “C” the same thing?

There seems to be no difference between ascorbic acid and vitamin C. But in fact, these substances cannot be considered one hundred percent identical in structure. Ascorbic acid is created in the laboratory, therefore, it is an artificial element, as if a simplified version of vitamin C. And vitamin C, in turn, is a 100% natural substance that is present in some food products (vegetables, fruits, berries, etc.), as well as in natural dietary supplements.

Thus, it cannot be said that ascorbic acid is one hundred percent identical to vitamin C.

Why is ascorbic acid used instead of natural vitamin C?

As we found out, vitamin C is a natural nutrient that is present in the composition of various vegetables, fruits and berries. However, the main problem with its uninterrupted intake into the body is that when heated, vitamins begin to break down and become completely useless. So in highly heated food often there is practically nothing useful. And this is a problem if you mean liquids - for example, citrus juices. After all, the industrial production of such drinks involves mandatory pasteurization (boiling to kill bacteria).

And ascorbic acid was obtained synthetically in order to find a worthy replacement for natural vitamin C, which is destroyed by high temperatures. So if you're drinking quality store juice that claims to be rich in vitamin C, you're most likely getting ascorbic acid added to replace the original vitamin.

Is there a fundamental difference between vitamin C and ascorbic acid?

Scientists mostly agree that, despite structural differences, vitamin C and ascorbic acid provide almost equivalent benefits. However, they have opponents who are confident in the almost complete uselessness of the synthetic form of the vitamin.

Nevertheless, among manufacturers, physicians and scientists, ascorbic acid is considered to be completely identical to vitamin C. Therefore, it can be concluded that all drinks, foods and a variety of dietary supplements enriched with ascorbic acid are sources of this vitamin. And the vitamin C content will be listed on the packaging.

However, the naturally occurring vitamin C complex (found in raw fruits and vegetables) is a source of several additional components, represented by vitamins J, K and P, as well as an enzyme known as tyrosinase. Accordingly, if we compare natural vitamin C and an egg, then ascorbic acid is just a shell and protein.

Does ascorbic acid perform all the functions of the natural form of the vitamin?

Many people and doctors believe that these substances are interchangeable. However, there are experts who believe that natural vitamin C has a slightly different effect on the body. This is due to the presence in its composition of additional components that work as a catalyst, which increases the effectiveness of this substance. There are several other points of view and even studies that have shown that these forms of the vitamin do not work in the same way. In order to make up for the missing enzymes, the body will have to find them from some of its reserves.

So the Nobel Prize winner Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi (who discovered vitamin C) stated that ascorbic acid is completely incomparable with the activity of a natural vitamin.

Where is the alternative?

If you want to get natural vitamin C (and not ascorbic acid), you should consume as many raw, unprocessed fruits as possible, as well as vegetables. At the same time, it is worth remembering that vitamin C dissolves quite quickly in water and can leave the body within a few hours after consumption. Therefore, if you do not eat such products often (several times a day), you cannot do without ascorbic acid. Dietary supplements containing natural vitamin C will also be a good choice.

Is it possible to buy foods with natural vitamin C?

Such food does exist, but it is very difficult to find it in the store, and in many settlements it is unrealistic. For its preparation, they take vegetables and fruits rich in multivitamin elements. Water is extracted from them, as well as inert elements, by cold evacuation. The rest is a natural complex of vitamins. You can buy this kind of food online.

So, ascorbic acid and vitamin C are very similar, but at the same time, different substances in structure.