Vitamin C

Overview:

Vitamin C is required to make collagen, which holds together skin, blood vessels, bone and connective tissue, and it substantially improves absorption of iron from plant foods. It also acts as an antioxidant. Humans cannot make it, so it must come from diet, mainly fruit and vegetables. Severe deficiency causes scurvy, with bleeding gums, poor wound healing, easy bruising and fatigue, and although it is often thought of as historical, it still occurs in people with very restricted diets, alcohol dependence or eating disorders. Levels fall quickly with illness and reflect recent intake, so sample handling matters.

Categories:

Vitamins & Nutrients

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker