Vitamin C

IngredientsDoctor’s Best Vitamin C featuring Quali™-C provides a brand of ascorbic acid (also known as ascorbate) that is manufactured at the only plant out-side of Asia that produces high-quality vitamin C. Located on the coast of Scotland, the site is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of its production process, and ensures that their vitamin C is made from glucose originating from European non-GMO cornfields.1

Vitamin C is essential to the biosynthesis of the metabolic facilitator L-car-nitine, the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, and the main connective tis-sue in the body, collagen. While these functions are obviously critical for our health, this vitamin is most widely revered for its role as a reducing agent (an electron donor), serving as a co-factor for hydroxylases (enzymes) in addition to enhancing the body’s total antioxidant potential. As a reducing agent, ascorbate also can aid in the absorption of dietary nonheme iron, helping those who need more iron from their daily intake.2

BenefitsEnhances the body’s antioxidant network*Vitamin C is a key compound in the body’s “antioxidant network,” a chain of synergistic, inextricability linked, well-studied antioxidants that includes glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E. When vitamin E uses its antioxidant function in neutralizing free radicals, it also loses this antioxidant func-tion. Vitamin C can change this status; it can regenerate vitamin E back to its native form, and is thought to “spare” glutathione in the body as well. Importantly, when ascorbate donates an electron and becomes itself oxi-dized, or “consumed,” the ascorbate radical is relatively harmless.3 In a dou-ble-blind, placebo-controlled study in which blood GSH was measured in healthy subjects at several stages, 500 mg of vitamin C taken daily for 2 weeks significantly raised erythrocyte (red blood cell) glutathione levels. The researchers concluded that vitamin C supplementation at that level can benefit the overall antioxidant capacity of the blood.4 In another study of similar design, 1000 mg of vitamin C taken daily for 4 weeks bolstered vitamin E and glutathione content in erythrocyte cell membranes, com-pared with placebo.5

The highest concentrations of vitamin C in the body are found in the cen-tral nervous system (in neurons of the brain & spinal cord) and the adrenal

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Vitamin C 500mg, 120VC

Vitamin C 1000mg, 120VC & 360VC

120 & 360 Servings

with Quali™-C

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

glands. Although the presence of ascorbate in neurons is in part explained by its neuromodulatory enzyme activity, its high concentration suggests that vitamin C is so greatly retained by neurons in order to address the higher rates of oxidative metabolism experienced by the brain. This has led to the conclusion that under normal conditions, vitamin C helps safeguard the integrity of neurons (and therefore the brain), largely through neutral-ization of the free radicals of reactive oxygen species (ROS).6 Low levels of blood vitamin C and the resulting accumulation of ROS are thought to be detrimental—especially to aging populations.

Supports the Cardiovascular and Immune Systems*Most prospective studies assessing vitamin C intake in large numbers of people who are followed over time indicate that the highest intakes of vi-tamin C are associated with enhanced cardiovascular benefits. In addition, some large studies of healthy individuals who take vitamin C supplements suggest that supplementation supports healthy heart function. The Nurs-es’ Health Study of more than 85,000 women followed for over 16 years found vitamin C intakes of more than 359 mg per day from diet plus sup-plements or from supplements alone were associated with a more favor-able cardiovascular health status.7 In a recent review of studies in which more than 290,000 healthy adults were followed for an average of 10 years, those who took more than 700 mg per day of supplemental vitamin C had a substantially better cardiovascular profile than those who did not take vitamin C supplements.8

Oxidative stress is a central component of cardiovascular health, and vita-min C acts vigorously to counteract multiple avenues of oxidation that de-tract from cardiovascular health.9 Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial cells (lining blood vessel walls) helps to maintain cardiovascular homeosta-sis and to safeguard blood vessels. Ascorbate helps to protect the normal NO biosynthesis pathway, which is easily disrupted by ROS.

High levels of certain proteins in the blood serve as indicators of disrup-tions to both cardiovascular and immune system health. In a study of 3,258 healthy men, levels of vitamin C in the blood have been found to be inversely associated with these protein markers of unbalanced immune activation.10

In a study examining the blood of 240 healthy subjects, the concentration of glutathione and ascorbate was measured in lymphocytes.11 Interesting-ly, the vitamin C levels of the lymphocytes varied significantly depend-ing on the season (ascorbate levels were lower in the winter), confirming earlier research in which investigators had reported fluctuations in blood vitamin C levels with the seasons. The researchers propose that vitamin C supplementation will not only increase levels of ascorbate in lymphocytes, but GSH levels as well. Although not a controlled clinical trial, the results here are one more piece of the immune system puzzle, and they also hint at what time of year vitamin C supplementation may be most beneficial.

AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCHResults from a pilot study in young adults with either marginal or adequate vitamin C status indicate that vitamin C status impacts fat oxidation.12 The investigators conclude that this is one factor to consider in planning effec-tive weight management strategies.

In a subsequent study of 118 generally sedentary (some normal weight, some overweight) adults aged 20–60, the relationship between vitamin C, body mass index (BMI), and other measures of health was assessed. The researchers found that blood plasma vitamin C concentration was inverse-ly correlated with BMI, percentage of body fat (adiposity), and waist cir-cumference in both the men and women.13 This is particularly interesting because approximately one-third of Americans have marginal vitamin C concentrations. Previous studies also found an inverse relationship be-tween plasma ascorbate and adiposity; it remains unknown whether the increased oxidative stress of carrying additional pounds accounts for this—but research will eventually provide us with an answer.

Vitamin C Powder

Quali™-C is a trademark of DSM

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Doctor’s Best, Incphone: 800-333-6977 • fax: 949-498-3952 • www.drbvitamins.com ©Doctor’s Best, Inc. Revised 12/16

Scientific References1. DSM. Quali™-C: Traceability. 2011 [cited 2011 April 14]; Available

from: http://www.quali-c.com/dn_traceability-vitamin-c/.2. Groff, J. and S. Gropper, Iron, in Advanced Nutrition and Human

Metabolism: Third Edition. 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson: Bel-mont. p. 402-417.

3. Buettner, G.R., The pecking order of free radicals and antioxi-dants: lipid peroxidation, a-tocopherol, and ascorbate. Arch Bio-chem Biophys, 1993. 300(2): p. 535-543.

4. Johnston, C.S., C.G. Meyer, and J.C. Srilakshmi, Vitamin C elevates red blood cell glutathione in healthy adults. Am J Clin Nutr, 1993.58(1): p. 103-5.

5. Wen, Y., T. Cooke, and J. Feely, The effect of pharmacological sup-plementation with vitamin C on low-density lipoprotein oxida-tion. Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1997. 44(1): p. 94-7.

6. Rice, M.E., Ascorbate regulation and its neuroprotective role inthe brain. Trends in Neurosciences, 2000. 23(5): p. 209-216.

7. Osganian, S.K., et al., Vitamin C and risk of coronary heart disease in women. J Am Coll Cardiol, 2003. 42(2): p. 246-52.

8. Knekt, P., et al., Antioxidant vitamins and coronary heart diseaserisk: a pooled analysis of 9 cohorts. Am J Clin Nutr, 2004. 80(6):p. 1508-20.

9. Li, Y. and H.E. Schellhorn, New developments and novel thera-peutic perspectives for vitamin C. J Nutr, 2007. 137(10): p. 2171-84.

10. Wannamethee, S.G., et al., Associations of vitamin C status, fruitand vegetable intakes, and markers of inflammation and hemo-stasis. Am J Clin Nutr, 2006. 83(3): p. 567-74; quiz 726-7.

11. Lenton, K.J., et al., Direct correlation of glutathione and ascorbate and their dependence on age and season in human lymphocytes. Am J Clin Nutr, 2000. 71(5): p. 1194-200.

12. Johnston, C.S., C. Corte, and P.D. Swan, Marginal vitamin C statusis associated with reduced fat oxidation during submaximal exer-cise in young adults. Nutr Metab (Lond), 2006. 3: p. 35.

13. Johnston, C.S., C. Corte, and P.D. Swan, Plasma Vitamin C Is In-versely Related to Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference but Not to Plasma Adiponectin in Nonsmoking Adults. J Nutr, 2007.137: p.1757-62.