The primary physiological function of vitamin C:
1. Promotes the biological composition of collagen, which facilitates faster wound healing;
2. Promotes the metabolism of tyrosine and tryptophan in amino acids, thus prolonging the lifespan of the body.
3. Improve the use of iron, calcium and folic acid.
4. Improves the metabolism of fats and lipids, especially cholesterol, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease.
5. Promotes the growth of teeth and bones, and prevents bleeding gums.
6. Enhance the body's ability to resist stress and its immunity to the external environment.
Drug effects:
Vitamin C participates in various reactions in the body, such as in redox processes, playing an important role in biological oxidation and reduction, as well as cellular respiration. At the tectonic level, vitamin C's primary function is related to the formation of the intercellular matrix, including collagen, the matrix of teeth and bones, and the junctions between capillary endothelial cells. Therefore, scurvy caused by vitamin C deficiency is accompanied by collagen formation defects, manifesting as slow wound healing, impaired tooth formation, and numerous petechiae due to capillary damage, which merge to form ecchymoses.
Vitamin C and scurvy have a long history. Hippocrates was the first to mention scurvy, describing how soldiers' gums rotted and teeth fell out. Early sea voyages led to increased awareness of scurvy; after 3-4 months away from port, sailors often contracted scurvy, initially attributed to the lack of fresh vegetables and fruits. In 1932, British military doctors isolated a crystalline substance with anti-scurvy properties from lemon juice, and in 1933, Swiss scientists synthesized vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid.
Vitamin C is essential for human health.
1. Vitamin C is required for collagen formation. Therefore, a deficiency in Vitamin C hinders collagen production, leading to impaired cell connectivity. The human body is composed of cells, which are connected by the intercellular matrix. A key component of the intercellular matrix is collagen. Collagen accounts for one-third of the body's protein, forming connective tissue and constituting the body's framework, such as bones, blood vessels, and ligaments. It determines skin elasticity, protects the brain, and aids in wound healing.
2. Scurvy. The strength of blood vessel walls is closely related to vitamin C. Capillaries are the smallest of all blood vessels, with walls that may be only one cell thick. Their strength and elasticity are determined by collagen, which acts as a cement in connecting cells. When vitamin C is insufficient in the body, capillaries are prone to rupture, causing blood to flow into nearby tissues. This condition manifests on the skin's surface as bruising and purpura; internally, it causes pain and joint swelling. In severe cases, bleeding can occur in the stomach, intestines, nose, kidneys, and even under the periosteum, potentially leading to death.
3. Gum recession and bleeding. Healthy gums tightly cover each tooth. Gums are soft tissue, and when there is a deficiency in protein, calcium, and vitamin C, gum recession and bleeding are likely to occur.
4. Prevents arteriosclerosis. It can promote cholesterol excretion, prevent cholesterol from accumulating on the inner walls of arteries, and even dissolve existing atherosclerotic plaques.
5. It is a water-soluble and powerful antioxidant. It can protect other antioxidants, such as vitamin A, vitamin E, and unsaturated fatty acids, from damage to the body caused by free radicals.
6. Treating anemia. It reduces ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+), which is difficult to absorb, thus promoting iron absorption in the digestive tract and improving the liver's utilization of iron, which helps treat iron deficiency anemia.
7. Cancer prevention. Abundant collagen helps prevent the spread of cancer cells; the antioxidant properties of vitamin C can resist free radical damage to cells and prevent cell mutation; it blocks the formation of nitrosamines, a potent carcinogen, from nitrites and secondary amines. Autopsies of cancer patients have revealed that their vitamin C levels were practically zero.
8. Maintaining cells, detoxification, and liver health. Ensuring cell integrity and normal metabolism are crucial for human life. Glutathione and enzymes play a vital role in this process.
Glutathione is a short peptide composed of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine, and it has redox properties in the body. It exists in two forms: oxidized and reconstituted. The reconstituted form plays an important role in ensuring the integrity of cell membranes. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant; it is itself oxidized, which reduces oxidized glutathione to reconstituted glutathione, thus exhibiting its antioxidant effects.
Enzymes are catalysts for biochemical reactions, and some enzymes require free sulfhydryl groups to maintain their activity. Vitamin C can reduce disulfide bonds (-SS) to -SH, thereby improving the activity of related enzymes and exhibiting an antioxidant effect.
As can be seen from the above, as long as there is sufficient vitamin C, vitamin C, glutathione, and -SH form a powerful antioxidant combination that eliminates free radicals, inhibits lipid peroxidation and the toxic effects of certain chemicals, and protects the liver's detoxification ability and normal cell metabolism.
9. Improves the body's immunity.
Leukocytes are rich in vitamin C, and the vitamin C content in leukocytes decreases sharply when the body is infected. Vitamin C can enhance the chemotaxis and deformability of neutrophils, thereby improving their sterilization ability.
It promotes the generation of lymphoblasts and improves the body's ability to recognize and kill foreign and malignant cells.
It participates in the formation of immunoglobulins.
It improves complement esterase activity and increases complement CI production.
It promotes the production of interferons, disrupts the transcription of viral mRNA, and inhibits viral proliferation.
10. Enhances the body's emergency response capabilities. When the body is subjected to abnormal influences, such as pain, cold, hypoxia, or strong mental stimulation, it will trigger a severe state of resistance to these abnormal influences. This state is accompanied by a series of physical changes, including sympathetic nerve excitation and increased secretion of adrenal medulla and cortical hormones. The adrenaline and noradrenaline secreted by the adrenal medulla are derived from tyrosine, and this process requires the participation of vitamin C.
How to use Vitamin C for beauty:
Skin color primarily depends on the amount of melanin in the skin. The origin of melanin production lies with tyrosinase. Within melanocytes, tyrosine is converted to dopaquinone under its action, and then oxidized to form eumelanin. This melanin gradually reaches the skin's surface through normal skin metabolism and eventually sheds naturally along with dead skin cells. If skin metabolism is impaired, it can lead to significant pigment deposition and accumulation in certain areas, resulting in darker skin or the formation of spots and uneven skin tone. Therefore, inhibiting tyrosinase activity and sun protection are key to skin whitening. Vitamin C can inhibit tyrosinase activity, block melanin production, protect the skin from UV damage, restore existing melanin to colorless melanin precursors, and improve dull skin. However, restoring melanin to a colorless state does not guarantee that it will never recur. For true skin whitening, in addition to vitamin C, ingredients that inhibit melanin production and effective sun protection are also necessary.
Maintaining skin elasticity is a crucial aspect of skin whitening and care. The dermis is rich in collagen, which gives skin strength and maintains its structure. Interwoven within collagen are elastin fibers, which give skin its elasticity. However, the flexibility of collagen and elastin fibers is affected by oxidation. This is where vitamin C in cell tissues exerts its antioxidant and anti-aging effects, and can enhance collagen production, thus preventing and reducing wrinkles. Therefore, the statement that there is no collagen without vitamin C is not an exaggeration.
Therefore, a sufficient supply of Vitamin C is essential for achieving naturally fair, moisturized, and radiant skin. Since Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, it is excreted through sweat and urine, so it needs to be obtained daily from food. For healthy and beautiful skin, it is recommended to ensure a daily intake of 400-500 grams of vegetables and 100-200 grams of fruit to meet the body's Vitamin C needs. In situations of environmental pollution or severe stress, when the body generates more free radicals, it is also advisable to consider supplementing with Vitamin C to aid in skin whitening and overall health!
