The boyfriend, AKA Mr. Science, is back with another science guest post! I’ll be writing a follow-up post later on to talk about Vitamin C in the food we eat.

The chemical structure of Vitamin C

The importance of Vitamins has been given much attention in the promotion of health and development. Vitamins are organic compounds, which mean they contain carbon atoms within the chemical structure, and can be either water or fat soluble. Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body whereas water soluble vitamins cannot. There have been 13 vitamins important to human health identified to date, of which vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is likely the most familiar:

What is Vitamin C, why is it important and how do we obtain it?

In humans, Vitamin C is produced in the liver through the breakdown of glucose (see below). It can also be obtained by ingesting plant and animal products and is added to many commercial food products.

In the body, Vitamin C is required as a coenzyme (functions in conjunction with other enzymes) in the production of tissues, such as skin, blood vessels, and tendons and is an important component of wound repair. It also functions as an anti-oxidant, which means it donates electrons to other atoms or molecules. Vitamin C’s main role in tissue development is to link proteins together through the addition of a hydroxyl group (OH). Externally produced vitamin C enters the body through passive diffusion or active transport (expenditure of energy) across the intestine walls and through cell plasma membranes.

Chemical structure of glucose.

The recommended intake of vitamin C for humans is between 45-90 mg/day and helps to maintain a concentration in the bloodstream at about 100µmol/L. High functioning organs, such as the brain, pituitary and salivary glands have local concentrations much higher than that found in the bloodstream. The water soluble nature of vitamin C means it is difficult to overdose, as excess vitamin C is excreted in urine or stored temporarily in the kidneys. However, overdose is possible and symptoms range from nausea, bloating, kidney stones, nutrient depletion, kidney disease and diabetes.

Hydroxyl group

The health consequences of a Vitamin C deficiency include poor tissue development and reduced immune response with severe deficiency resulting in tissue and organ failure and ultimately death. That’s why we always need to make sure we consume an appropriate amount of Vitamin C in our diet.

Thanks for the guest post, Mr. Science!