Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic Acid: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Ascorbic acid?

Ascorbic acid (also known as Vitamin C),  a water-soluble nutritional supplement, is prescribed to meet the daily requirements of vitamin C or to overcome its deficiency. Ascorbic acid has antioxidant properties and is known to boost immunity.

Ascorbic acid can be taken orally once or twice a day with or without food. Various dosages available for ascorbic acid include 500 mg tablets (chewable and non-chewable), extended-release combinations, or fixed-dose combinations with other vitamins.

What are the uses of Ascorbic Acid?

  • Used in the treatment of scurvy (a disorder due to deficiency of vitamin C, characterized by bleeding gums, anemia, and blood like spots on the skin)
  • Acts as an immunity booster and fights against various common infections
  • Known for being a powerful antioxidant and prevents cell damage from oxidation induced by free radicals
  • Improves hair growth, teeth strength, and skin health
  •  Helpful in skin repair, wound healing, and strengthening bones and cartilages by promoting collagen synthesis

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    What are the side effects of Ascorbic Acid?

    Ascorbic acid is usually safe and is not known to cause any severe side effects. It’s a water-soluble vitamin and an excess of ascorbic acid gets excreted in the urine.

    Common side effects

    • Diarrhea
    • Abdominal pain
    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Heartburn

    Ascorbic acid should be taken as recommended by your doctor. If you notice any of these side effects or any other side effects, you should consult your doctor and seek medical advice.

    What is Ascorbic Acid

    Uses of Ascorbic Acid

    Side effects of Ascorbic Acid

    References

    1. https://dm5migu4zj3pb.cloudfront.net/manuscripts/101000/101014/cache/101014.1-20201218131340-covered-e0fd13ba177f913fd3156f593ead4cfd.pdf
    2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-020-2604-8
    3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/ascorbic-acids
    4. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1001/vitamin-c-ascorbic-acid
    5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_C

    Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Ascorbic Acid

    Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an established antioxidant and immunity booster that helps fight your body against various infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungus. When the body’s daily requirement of vitamin C is not met from the diet, vitamin C supplements are added by your doctor to overcome vitamin C deficiency.

    Ascorbic acid tablets are to be taken as prescribed by your doctor as an underdose will not give the required effect and overdose might cause side effects. Usually, 1 tablet can be taken once or twice daily, orally. Chewable tablets should be completely chewed and then swallowed. Non-chewable can be taken with water. Further, you can consult our doctors for expert medical advice regarding the use of ascorbic acid.

    Yes, ascorbic acid helps maintain good skin health. It keeps the skin elastic and soft by reversing cell damage induced by free radicals. Additionally, it promotes the synthesis of collagen – a protein useful in wound healing and skin repair. We recommend consulting our medical experts for more information about the beneficial effects of ascorbic acid on the skin.

    Food-grade ascorbic acid is usually prepared in industries by various processes. The most common being the biotech-based technique in which fermentation using microbes is the key process and it is environment-friendly and cost-effective. Another process involves glucose undergoing a 5-step chemical reaction to synthesize ascorbic acid by the Reichstein process.

    Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that is excreted in the urine. In case you are overconsuming ascorbic acid, its concentration in urine will increase. However, it is nothing to be alarmed about but, you should monitor the intake of ascorbic acid and report to your doctor any such urine analysis finding.

    You can use ascorbic acid on your face in powdered form by mixing with your serum or lotions; however, caution should be taken to always look out for any allergic reactions. If you have a known allergy to ascorbic acid, you should consult a dermatologist before applying it to your face. Consult our specialist for expert advice regarding the topical use of ascorbic acid.

    Yes, lemons are a rich source of ascorbic acid as 100 g of lemon juice serving contains approximately 39 mg of ascorbic acid. Lemon peel is even richer in ascorbic acid as it contains approximately 129 mg of ascorbic acid. Lemons are a natural source of ascorbic acid and are easily available in markets. Further, you can consult our experts for information on the best sources of ascorbic acid.

    No, ascorbic acid is another name for Vitamin C. It acts as an antioxidant and immunity booster which helps your body fight various infections. On the other hand, citric acid is an acid and is known for its antioxidant properties. Citric acid is more commonly found in citrus fruits (lemon and limes), strawberries, and raspberries.

    Ascorbic acid is naturally found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Foods rich in ascorbic acid include Indian gooseberry (amla), guava, citrus fruits (orange, lemon, and limes), tomato, kiwifruit, strawberries, papaya, pineapple, mango, potato, broccoli, peppers, blackcurrants, lychee, garlic, spinach, passion fruit, blueberry, and cauliflower. Further, you can consult our experts to know about the best food choices for meeting your daily requirements of ascorbic acid.

    Ascorbic acid has to be taken as prescribed by your doctor. Usually, it is safe to consume ascorbic acid in prescribed quantities and serious side effects are not reported. However, precaution should be taken to avoid overconsumption of ascorbic acid as it could lead to gastrointestinal disturbances. If you have known allergies to ascorbic acid, inform your doctor in advance. You can consult our medical experts for opinions on the usage of ascorbic acid.