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Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid , is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties.
Ascorbic acid is found in plants and food, including citrus fruits, tomatoes and green vegetables. It has other applications in photo development and in some specialized scientific applications. Ascorbic acid is also used in plastic manufacturing and water purification.
Ascorbic acid is a nutrient that the human body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. An antioxidant, ascorbic acid can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals —unstable molecules that can damage cells. It also helps prevent and treat scurvy.
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, ascorbic acid can help the human body fight bacterial infections and help form collagen, an important protein in fibrous tissue, teeth, bones, skin and capillaries.
Vitamin C occurs naturally in many fresh fruits and vegetables, from oranges and grapefruits to broccoli, Brussel sprouts and tomatoes. In these foods however, vitamins can be diminished by heat, boiling water or air.
Many foods are fortified with ascorbic acid to help replenish vitamin C content that may be lost in these ways. Ascorbic acid is often added to fruit juices, cereals, fruit-flavored candies, dried fruit, cured meats and frozen fruits, to fortify or add a citrus flavor.
Ascorbic acid also acts as a preservative to keep food such as bread, cured meats, jams and jellies, from spoiling.
Cosmetics and other personal care products may include less acidic forms of ascorbic acid, such as calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which act as antioxidants to slow deterioration of the finished product caused by exposure to the air and also to control the pH of the product.
Ascorbic acid is used in a range of industrial and manufacturing applications, including as a developing agent and preservative in photo production, and in water purification, where it is used to help remove the taste of iodine in sterilized, potable water. Scientists also use ascorbic acid in fluorescence microscopy, an essential tool to understanding cell biology. In this application, ascorbic acid helps increase fluorescence, making cells more visible to researchers. In plastic manufacturing, ascorbic acid helps bring about the chemical reaction that makes plastic.
Numerous scientific bodies have reviewed the safety of ascorbic acid in consumer products.
FDA strictly regulates and monitors food and color additives like ascorbic acid for their safe use. Specifically, FDA states that ascorbic acid is a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substance for use as a chemical preservative in foods and as a nutrient or dietary supplement.
Ascorbic acid is also well studied for its health benefits. Oregon State University’s Micronutrient Information Center states that the antioxidant properties of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and its role in collagen synthesis make it a vital molecule for skin health. According to NCI, dietary antioxidants like vitamin C can neutralize damage to cells caused by free radicals, which may play a role in the prevention of cancer and other health conditions.
Vitamin C and ascorbic acid are chemically identical. The vitamin C that occurs naturally in an orange or lemon is the same molecule as synthetic ascorbic acid developed in a laboratory.
