IPS Vitamin C: Your Daily Defence Companion

We all know that winter usually brings “flu season,” and many of us turn to vitamin C to help our bodies fight off those pesky viruses or reduce the risk of getting sick. Vitamin C, however, is more than just an immune booster; it plays a vital role in many other bodily processes that we need to survive.

Unlike most animals, human beings cannot produce vitamin C on their own, so we must get it from our diets (1). Although it’s naturally found in fruits and vegetables, vitamin C is highly unstable; cooking, storing, or handling these foods incorrectly can significantly reduce their vitamin C content (2). For this reason, taking a vitamin C supplement can be a valuable way to support your health.

Our bodies can only absorb a limited amount of vitamin C at once, and any excess is simply excreted. This means that taking very high doses does not result in absorbing more – in fact, the higher the dose taken at one time, the lower the percentage your body absorbs. Divided doses are therefore a better strategy (3). Daily vitamin C needs also vary: pregnant individuals, smokers or those exposed to second-hand smoke, and people with certain health conditions require more than the general population (2).

Now for the big picture: beyond supporting immunity, vitamin C is essential for wound healing, energy production, muscle maintenance, and antioxidant protection (2).

Wound Healing:

Wound healing is the body’s natural way of repairing damaged tissue, and vitamin C plays a key role in this process. It supports the production of collagen (4), the body’s most abundant protein and the primary structural support for skin, bones, and joints (5). When vitamin C levels are low, the body doesn’t have enough of the essential building blocks it needs to repair tissue, which can delay or impair healing (6). Vitamin C also stimulates dermal fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing connective tissue in the skin, helping wounds heal while maintaining the skin’s strength, structure, and integrity (6;7).

Energy Production and Muscle Support:

Vitamin C is essential for the production of L-carnitine (1;3), a compound we rely on because our bodies don’t make enough of it to meet metabolic demands. Carnitine supports healthy liver function and helps maintain muscle integrity (8). It also plays a key role in preserving muscle mass by helping prevent muscle loss – an important factor for overall strength, mobility, and health (9,10). In addition, carnitine is involved in energy production, converting nutrients into usable energy that powers our cells, tissues, and organs (8).

Antioxidant Protection:

Antioxidants protect our cells and tissues from damage caused by harmful particles. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant itself and also regenerates other antioxidants like vitamin E. Carnitine further supports this role by acting as a chemoprotectant (8; 11; 12).

IPS Vitamin C contains our patented ingredient Green Oxithin™, a green rooibos extract rich in antioxidants and linked to brain and heart health, with additional anti-inflammatory benefits. It also includes rutin, a compound known for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (13). Rutin plays an important role in bone health by supporting bone formation, and it also helps protect brain and nerve cells, among other key functions (14;15).

Bonus Benefit:

Vitamin C also enhances the absorption of nonheme iron (the type of iron found in plant sources), which the body absorbs less efficiently than heme (iron from animal products). This form of iron is still essential for many bodily functions (16), and vitamin C helps ensure you get more benefit from it.

The IPS Vitamin C formula is not only an excellent source of antioxidants but also provides more than just vitamin C. While vitamin C is widely known for its antioxidant and immune-supporting properties, it also plays a broader role in maintaining and supporting overall health.

References:

1. New developments and novel therapeutic perspectives for vitamin C. Li, Y and Schellhorn, HE. 137, 2007;, J Nutr, pp. 2171-84.
2. Australian Government Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. s.l. : National Health and Medical Research Council, 2006.
3. Toward a new recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C based on antioxidant and health effects in humans. Carr, AC and Frei, B. 69, 1999, Am J Clin Nutr, pp. 1086-107.
4. Nutrition 411: Revisiting vitamin C and wound healing. Collins, N. 2013, Ostomy Wound Manag, Vol. 59, pp. 12–14.
5. Collagen. Cleveland Clinic. [Online] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen.
6. The roles of vitamin C in skin health. Pullar, J and Carr, A. 2017, Nutrients, Vol. 9, p. 866.
7. The Role of Fibroblasts in Skin Homeostasis and Repair. Boraldi, F, et al. 7, 17 Jul 2024, Biomedicines, Vol. 12, p. 1586.
8. l-carnitine: Nutrition, pathology, and health benefits. Alhasaniah, A H. 30, Feb 2023, Saudi J Biol Sci, Vol. 2, p. 103555.
9. Potential therapeutic role of L-carnitine in skeletal muscle oxidative stress and atrophy conditions. Montesano, A, et al. 2015, 2015, Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev.
10. Mechanisms underlying the anti-wasting effect of l-carnitine supplementation under pathologic conditions: Evidence from experimental and clinical studies. Ringseis, R, Keller, J and Eder, K. 52, 2013, Eur. J. Nutr, pp. 1421–1442.
11. Ascorbate is an outstanding antioxidant in human blood plasma. Frei, B, et al. 1989, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, Vol. 86, pp. 6377-81.
12. Vitamin C function and status in chronic disease. Jacob , R A and Sotoudeh, G. 2002, Nutr Clin Care, Vol. 5, pp. 66-74.
13. Neuroprotective and anxiolytic potential of green rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) polyphenolic extract. López, V, et al. 1, 2022, Food & function, Vol. 13, pp. 91-101.
14. Rutin from Dendropanax morbifera Leveille protects human dopaminergic cells against rotenone induced cell injury through inhibiting JNK and p38 MAPK signaling. Park, S E, et al. 2014, Neurochem Res, Vol. 39, pp. 707-718.
15. An up-to-date review of rutin and its biological and pharmacological activities. Al-Dhabi, N A, et al. 9 Jan 2015, EXCLI J, Vol. 14, pp. 59-63.
16. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): new roles, new requirements? Gershoff, S N. 1993, Nutr Rev, Vol. 51, pp. 313-26.