Role of Vitamin C in the Body

Vitamin C is involved in numerous metabolic processes in the human body. It is essential for boosting our defenses and stimulating the immune system, the hormonal and nervous systems, regulation of fat metabolism, stimulation of the body’s detoxification system, formation and maintenance of bone and connective tissue, and for speedy wound healing.

In addition, vitamin C is the most important free radical scavenger in the human body and plays a crucial role in inflammatory conditions and radiation exposure.

Oxygen free radicals are aggressive and highly reactive substances formed in the body during metabolic processes or in response to exposure to chemical substances or radiation.

The human body has a whole network of different protective systems that scavenge and destroy free radicals as they are formed. These systems include both substances made by the body and substances that need to be supplied in the diet, such as vitamins A, C and E.

In certain conditions (environmental or radiation exposure, smoking, inflammation, stress) the formation of oxygen free radicals is increased to such levels that the normal concentrations of the body’s own protective systems can no longer handle the burden alone. This is when free radicals can do a lot of damage to cell walls, the genetic material and important proteins inside cells.

The state of a persistent excess of free radicals in the body is known as oxidative stress.