Though countless supplements have beneficial effects on the body, vitamin C is still mandatory for our health! In our IV therapy Toronto lounge, it’s one of the key nutrients requested for IV drip treatments.

Also called ascorbic acid, the nutrient is mandatory for optimal functioning, especially for cardiovascular health, collagen production, and immune function. Thus, getting enough of it through diet and oral supplementation is needed. “Unlike plants and most animals, humans have lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C endogenously and therefore have an essential dietary requirement for this vitamin,” says Oregon State University. 

In this article, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre emphasizes surprising facts about this nutrient. (And if you don’t supplement with vitamin C, you may want to after reading this article!)

11 Vitamin C Facts You Didn’t Know About 

1. 1. Oranges are not the only food source of this nutrient! You can level-up your vitamin C with kiwis, bell peppers, strawberries, mangoes, and guava. Give these a try in your next salad or snack on these for a treat! Click here to book a visit with our holistic nutritionist for a nutrient-rich treatment plan. 
   2. Excessive amounts of free radicals – which are harmful molecules that can trigger oxidative stress – can accumulate in the human body. An overload of free radicals can cause inflammation, hasten aging symptoms, and trigger cellular damage. Luckily, ascorbic acid acts as a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize these molecules to help prevent oxidative stress. 
   3. We all know that vitamin C supplementation can offer an immune boost, but it’s because it supports white blood cell production. These blood cells are needed to protect the body from infections. Though vitamin C cannot stop you from catching a cold, it “…may provide a moderate benefit in decreasing the duration and severity of colds in some groups of people,” confirms the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 
   4. Vitamin C intravenous drips have been examined for their effects on cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one study on ascorbic acid IV showed that it was “… safe at doses up to 1.5 g/kg in people who do not have kidney stones, other kidney diseases, or G6PD deficiency.” Some patients with an active cancer diagnosis may opt for this intravenous infusion to help enrich their quality of life. 
   5. Before vitamin C was discovered, scientists speculated that citrus fruits hold an element that could prevent scurvy. Around the 1500-1800s, close to 2 million sailors died from this condition! The formation of scurvy varies between people, though symptoms (i.e. bleeding gums) can pop up in 30 days if you consume less than 10mg of vitamin C daily.
   6. Topical vitamin C has anti-inflammatory components that can help regulate skin oil production; this may contribute to treating acne. One study revealed that a vitamin C lotion used twice daily reduced acne successfully in study participants.
   7. A vitamin C topical can also help protect your skin from UV rays, especially when combined with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. A study from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology explained that a mixture of topical vitamin E, vitamin C, and ferulic acid may reduce specific cells linked to UV-related skin cancer. 
   8. Liposomal vitamin C can improve your absorption of nutrients. Liposomal supplements contain microscopic bubbles that mimic our cellular membranes, which is why their absorption rate has a high efficiency compared to tablets and capsules. You’re welcome to read more about liposomal vitamin C from our blog. 
   9. Did you know that vitamin C levels tend to be low in smokers? Scientists speculate that this is due to high oxidative stress in the bodies of smokers. Cigarettes contain pollutants (i.e. heavy metals) that can significantly heighten oxidative stress and cause cellular damage and inflammation. 
   10. Ascorbic acid may affect cognitive function and mental health. The vitamin “…is a cofactor in the synthesis of several neurotransmitters, it’s needed to convert dopamine to serotonin, and it modulates neurotransmitter release in nerve cells,” confirms Psychology Today. 
   11. Vitamin C may have the potential to help alleviate chronic fatigue. In a Korean study, vitamin IV drips with vitamin C were given to fatigued office full-time workers. It was shown that high-dose IV vitamin C, in comparison to a placebo, lessened fatigue. “Moreover, the effect of intervention was strongest in subjects with lower baseline levels of vitamin C and, interestingly, the effect lasted until the next day,” explains a Nutrition Journal article.

If you have a compromised digestive tract or poor absorption of vitamins from a chronic health condition (i.e. Crohn’s disease), our IV Lounge may be of service to you. If you’re not aware yet, you can have complementary therapies customized for you! This is what we do in our IV Lounge, which is where we blend freshly-tailored IV therapy drips with personalized doses of nutrients. And if you are unsure, our previous post from our IV therapy Toronto Lounge about untangling IV therapy facts may be a good place to start.

Book Your IV drip at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre’s IV Lounge

Our IV Lounge has been accessed by Toronto patients since 2012. We’ve expanded with a wide range of integrated treatments, including Western medicine, herbal remedies, naturopathic medicine, and more. As we adhere to the principles of integrative functional medicine, each patient’s treatment plan is personalized for biological needs, such as mineral deficiencies, cognitive decline, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances, and/or chronic sinusitis. 

Our IV Lounge is for patients who need to ‘top up’ their levels of vitamins, to naturally promote healthier energy levels, and address other general wellness concerns. Our intravenous therapy is for adjunctive purposes; they are not meant to replace oral supplements, a healthy diet and exercise. When IV vitamin therapy is added to a current regiment of healthy living and formal health interventions (i.e. Western treatments), they can contribute to health elevations. 

Becoming an IV Lounge patient is easy: a) book your initial visit; b) meet our naturopathic doctor/IV therapist to discuss your health concerns and have your IV nutrients prescribed; c) then, you can get your IV drip immediately or book it on another day – it’s up to you! Along with prescribing key nutrients, such as vitamin C, a medley of amino acids, and trace minerals, we can tailor drips for health goals (i.e. a post-workout vitamin drip or an infusion that supports anti-aging effects). 

This is your opportunity to boost your vitamin C intake with IV nutrient therapy. Click here to call us to begin the tailoring process for IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Abdullah M, Jamil RT, Attia FN. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499877/

Lobo V, Patil A, Phatak A, Chandra N. Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul;4(8):118-26. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.70902. PMID: 22228951; PMCID: PMC3249911.

Murray JC, Burch JA, Streilein RD, Iannacchione MA, Hall RP, Pinnell SR. A topical antioxidant solution containing vitamins C and E stabilized by ferulic acid provides protection for human skin against damage caused by ultraviolet irradiation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Sep;59(3):418-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2008.05.004. Epub 2008 Jul 7. PMID: 18603326.

Suh SY, Bae WK, Ahn HY, Choi SE, Jung GC, Yeom CH. Intravenous vitamin C administration reduces fatigue in office workers: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Nutr J. 2012 Jan 20;11:7. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-7. PMID: 22264303; PMCID: PMC3273429.

“The Cognitive Benefits of Vitamin C” by Hara Estroff Marano, published in January 2018 issue, updated April 17, 2018, viewed on October 19, 2024. 

Travica N, Ried K, Sali A, Scholey A, Hudson I, Pipingas A. Vitamin C Status and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 30;9(9):960. doi: 10.3390/nu9090960. PMID: 28867798; PMCID: PMC5622720.

Valacchi G, Pecorelli A, Belmonte G, Pambianchi E, Cervellati F, Lynch S, Krol Y, Oresajo C. Protective Effects of Topical Vitamin C Compound Mixtures against Ozone-Induced Damage in Human Skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2017 Jun;137(6):1373-1375. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.01.034. Epub 2017 Feb 17. PMID: 28219661.

“Vitamin C” from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source, viewed on October 18, 2024. 

“Vitamin C” from Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, reviewed December 2018, viewed on October 17, 2024. 

Woolery-Lloyd, H., Baumann, L., & Ikeno, H. (2010). Sodium L-ascorbyl-2-phosphate 5% lotion for the treatment of acne vulgaris: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 9(1), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2165.2010.00480.x