Vitamin C

Vitamin C/Nutrient Depletion:

  • GeneralGeneral: Serum vitamin C concentrations below 0.2mg/dL indicate a significant deficiency, according to secondary sources.
  • Based on secondary sources, vitamin C deficiency may cause fatigue, personality changes, and a decline in psychomotor performance. Long-term vitamin C deficiency results in symptomatic scurvy, which is characterized by gingival swelling and bleeding; loosening of the teeth; hyperkeratosis; perifollicular hemorrhages; petechial hemorrhages in the viscera; and hemorrhages into the muscles of the arms, legs, and joints (131; 132; 133; 134). Severe scurvy may progress to neuritis, jaundice, fever, dyspnea, and death. In infants, vitamin C deficiency is initially manifested as listlessness, anorexia, irritability, and failure to thrive. Later symptoms result from hemorrhage and collagen deficiency, with seizures, shock, and death if left untreated.
  • AntibioticsAntibiotics: In a systematic review, the effects of vitamin C were decreased by tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline (Vibramycin?), minocycline (Minocin?), or tetracycline (Sumycin?) (25).
  • AspirinAspirin: In humans on a low-ascorbic acid-intake diet, administration of acetylsalicylic acid increased urinary ascorbic acid, but at high ascorbic acid intake, acetylsalicylic acid decreased urinary ascorbic acid (93).
  • ContraceptivesContraceptives: Oral estrogens may decrease the effects of vitamin C in the body (33).
  • DiureticsDiuretics: In individuals with chronic renal failure, a 20mg intravenous dose of furosemide (Lasix) increased urinary losses of vitamin C (102).
  • NicardipineNicardipine: In vitro, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers inhibited ascorbic acid accumulation in human intestinal Caco-2 cells (107).
  • NicotineNicotine: Nicotine products, such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and nicotine patches, may decrease the effects of vitamin C (109).
  • PhytoestrogensPhytoestrogens: Oral estrogens may decrease the effects of vitamin C in the body (33)
  • Pre-eclampsiaPre-eclampsia: In human research, pre-eclampsia is associated with a reduction in antioxidant concentrations, including vitamin C (78; 79).
  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): In healthy volunteers, omeprazole 40mg daily for four weeks reduced plasma vitamin C levels (110).
  • TobaccoTobacco: In children and adolescents exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, serum ascorbic acid levels were linearly related to serum cotinine levels (r=0.19) and, after controlling for confounders, environmental tobacco exposure remained significantly associated with lower levels of serum ascorbic acid in children who were exposed to both high and low levels of ETS (96; 97). The relationship of plasma and dietary vitamins C and E and tobacco use in adults has also been examined (98). Additional details are pending.
  • Vitamin B12Vitamin B12: Large doses of vitamin C may interfere with the absorption and metabolism of vitamin B12, according to secondary sources.