Vitamin C plays an essential role in many bodily functions. It acts as a reducing agent and antioxidant, helping to synthesize collagen and aid in iron absorption. A deficiency of vitamin C, known as scurvy, results in fragile blood vessels, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing due to a lack of collagen production. While most land animals can synthesize vitamin C, humans must obtain it through their diet by eating foods like citrus fruits, berries, peppers and leafy greens.

1. 1

2. 2

3. Scurvy in the British Royal Navy
 James Lind
published his
Treatise on the
Scurvy in 1754.
Lime juice was
made mandatory on
British Navy sailing
ships 40 years later

4.  The term “vitamin C” encompasses L-[+]-
ascorbic acid and its derivatives with identical
levels of biological effects. Chemically, ascorbic
acid is the enolic form of 3-oxo-L-
gulofuranolactone (A).

5.  Plants and many animals can synthesize it from
glucuronic acid. Since humans, apes, and guinea
pigs lack the last enzyme in the enzyme pathway,
L-gulonolactone oxidase, the vitamin is essential
for them.

6. Chemical formulas
Summary formula:
Geometrical formulas:
C6H8O6
The effective form for treatment of colds and flu is the ascorbate form.
The bioactive form of vitamin C is only the L-form
(synthetic ascorbic acid: 50 % L-form + 50 % D-form;
natural sources of vitamin C contain only the L- form).

7. VITAMIN CVITAMIN C
OH
OO
H
HO
HO
HO

9. 9
 It is also called ascorbic acid and antibiotic
vitamin.
 it is the most active reducing agent.
 it is powerful antioxidant

11. 11

12. 1. Vitamin C acts as a reducing agent:
2. The oxidation of p-hydroxphenyl pyruvate to
homogentisate in the metabolism of tyrosine
needs the presence of vitamin V and Cu+2
3. Role in iron absorption: Ascorbic acid present
in food reduces the inorganic Fe+++
(ic) to Fe++
(ous) form.

13. 4. Vitamin-C acts as a coenzyme for
hydroxylases. Hydroxylation reactions are
involved in the synthesis of collagen and
other compounds:

14. 5. Formation of carnitine in liver by hydroxylation
of γ-butyrobetaine involves vitamin-C, α-
ketoglutarate, Fe++
and a dioxygenase.
6. Vitamin-C required for the normal function of
adrenal cortex.

15. 7. The formation of FH4 from folate needs
vitamin-C. Tetrahydrofolate [FH4] is a
coenzyme from of folate.
8. Ascorbic acid is necessary for the formation
of tissue ferritin.

16. 9. Vitamin C is needed for the functional activity
of fibroblast, osteoblast, and consequently for
the synthesis of MPS of connective tissues,
osteoid tissues, dentine tissues and intracellular
substance involved in the cementing of
capillaries.

17.  Collagen formation
 Iron and hemoglobin metabolism
 Tryptophan metabolism
 Tyrosine metabolism

18.  Folic acid metabolism
 Cholesterol synthesis
 Cellular respiration
 Immunological function
 Prevents cataract formation
 Preventive action on chronic diseases

20. SOURCES
 Citrous fruits- orange, lemon
 Papaya
 Pineapple
 Banana
 Strawberry
 Green leafy vegetables
 Cabbage
 Cauliflower
 Germinating seed
 Green peas and beans
 Gooseberry(Amla)
(richest source)
RDA: Adults 60-70 mg/day

22. 22
 Blackcurrants
 Citrus fruits
 Strawberries
 Peppers/Potatoes

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24. 24
 Absorption of ascorbic acid into the blood
stream takes place in the upper part of the
small intestine
 Excretion –through urine

26. VITAMIN C NEEDS
 • 10 MG/DAY TO PREVENT SCURVY
 • RDA IS 60 MG/DAY
 • ONE ORANGE = 70 MG
 • ONE CUP O.J. = 124 MG
 • AVERAGE SUPPLEMENT IS 500 MG
 • 250 AS AN ANTIOXIDANT
 • 2000 MG IS MEGADOSE

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 Men – women – 70-90mg
 Children –.40mg
 Infant – 25mg
 Pregnancy & lactation – 80mg

28.  VITAMIN C
 most famous vitamin (also called ascorbic acid)
 helps form collagen or body cement
 helps in growth and repair of body tissue and
blood vessels
28

29.  prevents scurvy
 can be decreased by cigarette smoking, stressful
injuries and oral contraceptives
 excessive doses can cause kidney stones and
break down red blood cells

30. 30
 synthesis of collagen
 Maintenance – necessary for maintenance of
bones & proper functioning of the adrenal &
thyroid gland .

31.  antioxidant
 It stimulates immune function, combats bacterial
infection, reduces effects of allergy-producing
substances and protects vitamins, A, E and some
B complex vitamins from oxidation.

32. 32
SCURVY
 Fragility of blood vessels
 Easy bruising, hemorrhage
 Poor healing
 Pain in Bones & Muscle
 Poor Bone & Dentin formation
 Compromised immunity

33.  The well-known deficiency is Scurvy
 Weakness
 Fatigue
 Inflammation of the gum
 Impaired wound healing
 Hemorrhages
 depression

37.  SCURVY- defect lies in the failure of intercellular cement
substance
 Fragile capillaries-petechial, sub-cutaneous ,sub-
periostial
or internal hemorrhages.
 Poor /Delayed wound healing.
 Poor dentine formation
 Gum bleed- gums are swollen, spongy bleeds on
pressure
 Poor mineralization of bones
 Anemia- microcytic - hypochromic

38.  Toxicity
 With too high a dose, diarrhea, dizziness,
gastritis, headaches, light-headedness, nausea,
and vomiting can occur, though these may be just
temporary. Rare symptoms include abdominal
pain and anemia.
 Daily dosages above 500 mg/day may deplete
the level of copper in the blood of males.

39.  Toxicity
 Women taking 2000 mg or more a day may experience
fertility problems; individuals taking 2000 mg or more a day
may lower the resistance of their white blood cells to fight
one common form of bacteria,
 Those taking 3000 mg or more a day may experience
reduced levels of the amino acid cysteine in the blood.
 Dosages above 4000 mg/day can increase kidney stone
formation .
 Chewable vitamin C can lead to
severe dental erosion

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 .SYNTHESIS OF COLLAGEN
 • BLOOD VESSELS
 • SCAR TISSUE, BONE MATRIX
 • ANTIOXIDANT
 • HELPS ABSORB IRONVitamin C -

41.  stimulates immune function, combats
bacterial infection, reduces effects of allergy-
producing substances and protects vitamins,
A, E and some B complex vitamins from
oxidation.

42. 42
 • SCURVY - SAILORS AFTER A FEW
WEEKS WITHOUT FRESH FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES. WAS THOUGHT
TO BE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
 •“LIMEYS”

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 ANEMIA
 PINPOINT BLEEDING
 BLEEDING GUMS
 OPEN SORES, POOR HEALING
 BONE, JOINT PAIN
 MENTAL DISORDERS

44. 44
gums swollen,
smooth shiny
spongy & bleeds
easily.
Colour – changes to
violaceous red.

45.  • SCURVY - SAILORS AFTER A FEW
WEEKS WITHOUT FRESH FRUITS
AND VEGETABLES. WAS THOUGHT
TO BE AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
 •“LIMEYS”
45

46.  • ANEMIA
 • PINPOINT BLEEDING
 • BLEEDING GUMS
 • OPEN SORES, POOR HEALING
 • BONE, JOINT PAIN
 • MENTAL DISORDERS
46

47.  • LINUS PAULING 1960’S - ONE STUDY
 • NEVER BEEN REPLICATED
47

48.  • DIARRHEA
 • BLOATING
 • CRAMPS
 • KIDNEY STONES
 • ANEMIA - DESTRUCTION OF RBC’S
 • REBOUND SCURVY
 • INFANTILE SCURVY
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54. Vitamin C DeficiencyVitamin C Deficiency
Corkscrew Hair

55. Vitamin C DeficiencyVitamin C Deficiency
Perifollicular Petechiae

56. Vitamin C DeficiencyVitamin C Deficiency
Scurvy

57. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Gum changes in infant
scurvy:
The swelling and
hemorrhages are confined
to the areas of the gum
surrounding the erupting
teeth.

58. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Gums in scurvy:
The gums are blue-red and
glossy swollen in this patient
with severe scurvy. The
earliest changes are swelling
of the internal dental papillae
and tendency to bleed easily.
Lesions occur only in relation
to teeth and so in young infants
and edentulous adults they are
absent. In advanced cases
there is usually an element of
infection and antibiotics as well
as vitamin C are required for
healing

59. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Very advanced gum lesions in scurvy

60. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Orbital hemorrhage:
This is a dramatic but
infrequent sign of
scurvy. There is
complete clearing with
treatment.

61. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Splinter hemorrhage:
In this unusual sign in
scurvy the hemorrhages are
arranged in a semicircular
lattice involving nail beds.
They are more extensive
than those in sub-acute
bacterial endocarditis.

62. METABOLIC FUNCTION OF VITAMIN
C
 11)) Electron transportElectron transport
o Loses electrons easily because ofLoses electrons easily because of
reversible monovalent oxidation toreversible monovalent oxidation to
ascorbyl radicalascorbyl radical
o Involved in many electron transportInvolved in many electron transport
reactionsreactions
o Ascorbic acid regenerated – ascorbyl ionAscorbic acid regenerated – ascorbyl ion
reduced by two enzymesreduced by two enzymes
 dehydroascorbate reductase
 ascorbate cytochrome-b5.

63. O
HO
O
OO
L-Ascorbate
Anion
O
HO O
O
-
HO
O
HO
CH2OH
O
O O
-e-
, -H
+
+e-
, +H
+
-e-
+2 e- ,
+2H
+
Dehydro Ascorbic Acid Reductase
Ascorbyl free radical
Dehydroascorbic
Acid
•
CH2OH CH2OH

64.  2) Antioxidant functions
 Antioxidant Activity
 Reacts and removes active oxygen species
 Pro-oxidant Activity
 Reduces metals to their pro-oxidant forms

66. 3)Collagen synthesis
o Helps in hydroxylation of prolineHelps in hydroxylation of proline
and lysine in procollagenand lysine in procollagen
moleculemolecule
o Catalyzed by prolyl hydroxylaseCatalyzed by prolyl hydroxylase
and lysyl hydroxylaseand lysyl hydroxylase
o Hydroxylation of procollagenHydroxylation of procollagen
necessary for folding into triplenecessary for folding into triple
helical structurehelical structure

67. 4)4) Catecholamine biosynthesisCatecholamine biosynthesis
o Serves asServes as electron donorelectron donor forfor dopamine ß –dopamine ß –
monooxygenasemonooxygenase
5)5) Carnitine synthesisCarnitine synthesis
o Ascorbic acid has a cofactor of two FeAscorbic acid has a cofactor of two Fe2+2+
containing hydroxylases involved in synthesiscontaining hydroxylases involved in synthesis
of carnitineof carnitine

68. CATECHOLAMINE BIOSYNTHESIS
Dopamine-ß-
Monooxygenase
Cu+
Cu2+
Ascorbate
Ascorbyl free radical

71. 7) Absorption of iron
 Keeps iron in ferrous form
(Fe2+)
8) Immune function
 Stimulate production of interferons
 Antibody IgG and IgM
 Megadose of vitamin
C – 10g/day,
prevent common cold