What is buffered vitamin C?

The name ‘ascorbic acid’ directly refers to vitamin C’s ability to prevent scurvy (a-scorbut = no scurvy). Vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid has been available as a dietary supplement for over thirty years. Due to its acidic nature, ascorbic acid leads to digestive problems in many people. About 10 years ago, calcium ascorbate was introduced, a form of vitamin C where the ascorbic acid is bound to calcium. This dietary supplement is pH-neutral and causes much fewer digestive problems.

What is vitamin C good for?

Vitamin C has a diverse spectrum of positive effects. According to Dutch legislation, we are limited to sharing the following effects: Vitamin C supports collagen formation, which is beneficial for smooth arteries and supports the maintenance of a strong vascular wall. It also supports bones, helps release energy from food, is important for the skin, increases iron absorption, supports the immune system, supports teeth, is good for learning performance, helps with fatigue, is good for the nervous system, and is an antioxidant.

For oral advice, please call (+31) (0)70 345-0290.

The history of vitamin C

Scientists believe that tens of millions of years ago, a spontaneous mutation occurred in the genetic material of our distant ancestors. This mutation resulted in the loss of the ability to produce vitamin C. Since then, humans have become completely dependent on food for their vitamin C needs. An interesting theory suggests that this evolutionary change accelerated human development. Vitamin C, an important antioxidant, was lost, which likely led to a strong increase in free radicals and a large number of DNA mutations. This accelerated genetic change resulted in the emergence of various primate species, one of which eventually evolved into the ancestor of modern humans.

During ice ages and other periods of food scarcity, early humans were certainly threatened by scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, where the blood vessels begin to leak and eventually death occurs due to internal bleeding. Probably, a new mutation ensured that early humans could survive these harsh periods. This mutation gave humans the ability to repair small leaks in the blood vessels using, among other things, cholesterol-containing lipoproteins, ‘sticky’ molecules, the most important of which is lipoprotein-A.

However, this repair mechanism for harsh times also has its downside. Chronic consumption of vitamin C-poor foods leads to excessive deposits on the inside of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Marginal intake of vitamin C supports the maintenance of a strong vascular wall and is beneficial for smooth arteries. Diets rich in saturated and trans fats, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity are risks for negative effects on the heart and blood vessels.

How much vitamin C does a person need?

Several studies have shown that a daily intake of 10 mg of vitamin C is generally sufficient to prevent scurvy in most people. In the EU, a recommended daily amount of 80 mg is established for an adult. This amount creates a vitamin C store in the body that provides protection against scurvy for 30 to 45 days, even if vitamin C intake is discontinued. It is difficult to determine the optimal amount of vitamin C needed to fully meet the body’s vitamin C needs. An intriguing discovery is that almost all animal species are able to produce their own vitamin C, with the exception of a few, including humans, primates, guinea pigs, rainbow trout, and coho salmon.

Emphasized Note

Due to legal restrictions, not all details about this dietary supplement can be provided. However, for further inquiries, we can be reached at (+31) (0)70 345-0290.