Very few people are unaware of vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic (DHAA). Truthfully, vitamin C is an almost generic term for any compounds that show the same biologic activity as AA. It was essentially “discovered” in 1747 when James Lind found that men could be cured of scurvy when fed lemons or oranges. It was a lifesaving discovery for sailors of His Majesty’s Royal Navy.
Vitamin C is the most abundant and available water soluable antioxidant in the body. It’s water solubility means it can neutralize free radicals before the reach the cellular membrane. The relationship between Ascorbic Acid and glutathione- the body’s master antioxidant is unique. Vitamin C reduces glutathione back to the active form. Once reduced, glutathione will regenerate vitamin C from its DHAA or oxidized state. This is one of the reasons that Vitamin C is an ingredient in Dr Keller’s Original Glutathione Formula Vitamin C is important for the production of collagen. It is also important in the formation of norepinephrine and serotonin. Ascorbic Acid may also have some anti-clotting and blood flow improvement properties by stimulating the release within the body of Nitric Oxide, which is the most likely reason that Vitamin C is also an important ingredient in the supplement Pro-Argi9-Plus
Vitamin C is stored in both the blood and tissues throughout our body. The lens of the eye, and our adrenal and pituitary glands contain the highest concentrations of vitamin C. It is one of the 13 essential vitamins although the term “Essential” is often misunderstood. What it actually means is that an essential vitamin is one that must be provided by our diet since we cannot manufacture it within the body.