Vitamin C or ascorbic acid ( ascorbic acid ) is a vitamin needed to prevent and treat vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy or scurvy. In addition, vitamin C also has an antioxidant effect that can help the body fight free radicals.
Vitamin C plays an important role in various processes that occur in the body, including maintaining and optimizing the work of the immune system, the formation of collagen , protein, neurotransmitters, and increasing the absorption of iron.
Vitamin C cannot be produced by the body itself, so to meet the needs of vitamin C, you need to eat foods that contain vitamin C , such as oranges, kiwi , chili, tomatoes, strawberries or spinach. Some conditions that can increase the risk of developing a vitamin C deficiency are having a smoking habit, suffering from a chronic disease, or following a certain diet.
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What is Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
| class | Free medicine |
| Category | Vitamin supplements |
| Benefit | Prevent and treat vitamin C deficiency |
| Used by | Adults and children |
| Vitamin C for pregnant and lactating women | Category C: Studies in animal studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, but there have been no controlled studies in pregnant women. The drug should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. Vitamin C may be absorbed into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor first |
| Drug form | Tablets, caplets, powders, syrups and injections |
Warning Before Using Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
There are several things that you should pay attention to before using vitamin C, namely:
- Do not use vitamin C if you are allergic to this vitamin supplement.
- Injectable vitamin C should only be given by a doctor or medical officer under the supervision of a doctor
- Consult your doctor about using vitamin C supplements if you have hemochromatosis , G6PD enzyme deficiency or kidney disease, such as kidney stones .
- Talk to your doctor about using vitamin C supplements if you are a smoker, as smoking can decrease the effectiveness of vitamin C.
- Consult your doctor about using vitamin C supplements if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Talk to your doctor about using vitamin C supplements if you are taking other supplements, herbal products, or medications.
- Immediately see a doctor if you experience a drug allergic reaction , overdose, or serious side effects after using vitamin C.
Dosage and Rules for Using Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
The following is the dose of vitamin C based on the age of the patient and the intended use:
Purpose: To be a food supplement
- Adult: 50–200 mg per day.
- Children: 35–100 mg per day.
Purpose: Treating scurvy ( scurvy )
- Adult: 100–250 mg, 1–2 times daily for 2 weeks or more.
- Children: 100–300 mg per day in divided doses, for 2 weeks or longer.
Purpose: Acidification of urine
- Adult: 000–12,000 mg daily in 3–4 divided doses.
- Children: 500 mg every 6–8 hours.
Nutrition Adequacy Rate (RDA) of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
The daily nutritional adequacy rate (RDA) for vitamin C varies, depending on the patient's age, sex, and health condition. The following is the daily RDA of vitamin C:
- Infants 0–5 months: 40 mg
- Infants 6–11 months: 50 mg
- Children 1–3 years: 15 mg
- Children 4–6 years: 25 mg
- Children 7–9 years: 45 mg
- Boys 10–12 years: 50 mg
- Boys 13–15 years: 75 mg
- Males 16–80 years: 90 mg
- Girls 10–12 years: 50 mg
- Girls 13–15 years: 65 mg
- Women ages 16–80 years: 75 mg
- Pregnant women: 85 mg
- Nursing mothers: 120 mg
How to Use Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) Properly
Always follow the doctor 's recommendations and read the information on the drug packaging before taking vitamin C.
Injectable vitamin C will be given by a doctor or health worker under the supervision of a doctor at the hospital. Injectable vitamin C is given through a vein (intravenous/IV), muscle (intramuscular/IM), or under the skin (subcutaneous/SC).
Vitamin C in drinking form (tablets, caplets, powder, syrup) can be consumed before or after meals. Do not take more than the recommended dose of vitamin C. Consume sufficient amounts of water while undergoing treatment with vitamin C.
Vitamin C cannot cure colds and coughs. However, taking vitamin C regularly before the appearance of a cold is thought to speed up the recovery time for a mild cold. If you experience complaints of fever, cough and tightness that are burdensome, don't hesitate to check with your doctor.
Intake of vitamin C from supplements and multivitamins cannot replace intake from food. As much as possible, get enough vitamin C by increasing the consumption of fruits that contain high vitamin C, for example oranges, lemons, kiwi, mango, papaya, and strawberries.
Natural vitamin C intake can also be obtained from several vegetables that contain lots of vitamin C, such as broccoli, tomatoes, spinach and cabbage.
Store vitamin C in a dry place, away from direct sunlight, and at room temperature. Keep medicine out of reach of children
Interactions of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) with Other Drugs
There are several possible interaction effects if vitamin C is used with certain drugs, namely:
- Increased absorption of iron or aluminum-containing antacids
- Decreased effectiveness of anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin
- Increased levels of hormonal drugs containing estrogen
- Decreased levels of amphetamine in the blood
- Increased levels and effects of aspirin
- Decreased levels of vitamin C when used with barbiturate drugs , such as phenobarbital
Side Effects and Dangers of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
In general, vitamin C is safe if it is used according to the rules of use and does not exceed the recommended dosage. However, in some people certain side effects may appear, such as diarrhea , dizziness, nausea , headaches, stomach cramps , or heartburn.
Check with your doctor if these side effects don't improve or get worse. Immediately see a doctor if you experience a drug allergic reaction or serious side effects in the form of pain when urinating or bloody urine or pink urine.