While there is no evidence that taking high levels of vitamin C will prevent the common cold in the general population, it may help with decreasing its duration and severity, but only if you have been taking it consistently before getting sick, the NIH says. And supplementing with the vitamin may help prevent and treat respiratory and other illnesses, possibly because the vitamin supports the immune cells that identify and dispose of foreign particles in the body, research suggests. A study found that being deficient in vitamin C can impair immune function and leave you at risk of developing infections. “Vitamin C helps the body repair and regenerate tissues,” says Kate McGowan, RDN, who is based in Hingham, Massachusetts.īut of all its functions, vitamin C is probably best known for its role in immunity. What Does Vitamin C Do?Īn important antioxidant, vitamin C helps protect cells from damage caused by illness, aging, and environmental factors like ultraviolet (UV) light and pollution, notes the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It’s also required for the body to make collagen, a protein that, among other functions, helps wounds heal. This guide provides an overview of what vitamin C is good for, how to know if you’re getting enough, the top sources of it, and more. Today, much is known about the various ways vitamin C is used by our bodies, its potential benefits, and the best sources of this all-important nutrient.
Vitamin C was only the second vitamin, after thiamine, to be isolated and chemically defined. That’s when they realized vitamin theory, or the idea that the human body needs more than just the macronutrients protein, carbohydrates, and fat to survive. That means we must get the recommended levels of vitamin C through diet.Īlthough you probably see vitamin C everywhere these days - on labels for supplements, cough drops, and even skin-care serums - scientists only discovered its importance at the start of the 20th century, research notes. Also known as L-ascorbic acid, or sometimes ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that humans, unlike most other animals, cannot synthesize.
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