Libor Zouhar
10. 11. 2005

Summary formula: C
6
H
8
O
6
Geometrical formulas:
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).

Molecular Weight: 176,13 g/mol
Density: 1,65 g/cm 3 pH: 2,2-2,5
(50 g/l, 20 °C)
Solubility in water: 330 g/l
(24 °C)
Melting point: 190-192 °C
LD
50
(oral, rat) : 11900 mg/kg
Vitamin C is destroyed by oxygen, heat (above 70 °C), light, freeze and reductans.

Albert von Szent-Györgyi Nagyrapolt (1893-1986)
Hungarian Nobel Laureate in Medicine (1937)
He was the first who isolated vitamin C (in 1926).
Deficiency of vitamin C knew people much more before as a scurvy. Scurvy killed more sailors than were lost in all sea battles.
scurvy = kurděje

Why is vitamin C „VITAMIN“ for man?
Man is one of the four mammalian species, who cannot produce own vitamin C.
Mammalians need the four enzymes to make vitamin C.
We have the first three enzymes. The fourth enzyme we lost somewhere in our evolution and so ascorbic acid became a vitamin for us.
We have to obtain the vitamin C from our diet.
Vitamin C should be consumed every day because it cannot be stored for later use.
RDA = 60 mg vitamin C mammalian species = savčí druhy to obtain = získat

Ascorbic acid is widely distributed in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Plant sources
Rosehip
Kiwifruit
Broccoli
Orange juice (3/4 cup)
Strawberry
Orange
Lemon
1 potato
Banana
Apple
Amount of vitamin C
[mg / 100 g food]
25
9
6
50
50
40
2000
90
90
75
Rosehips

Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins.
People who have high blood levels of vitamin C live 6 years longer than those who have lower blood levels.
"Vitamin C should be given to the patient while the doctors found the diagnosis."

The main function of Vitamin C in the body is the manufacture of collagen, the main protein substance of the human body. This protein makes up the structures that hold our bodies together, such as connective tissues, cartilage or tendons.
Vitamin C is essential for wound repair and healthy gums.
Vitamin C plays an important role in all immune system functions. It helps reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Vitamin C is required for synthesis of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the nervous system.
Vitamin C is also needed to synthesise carnitine, important in the transfer of energy to the cell mitochondria. connective tissue = pojivová tkáň cartilage = chrupavka tendon =šlacha essential = základní, nezbytný wound = zranění gum = dáseň

Vitamin C is also a highly effective antioxidant = it can absorb free oxygen radicals. Even in small amounts vitamin C can protect indispensable molecules in the body, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by free radicals.
indispensable = nepostradatelný