Before we go through the topic, I have provided a “References” section on the bottom of this page so that you could personally check the sources and researches that I used for this particular blog post.

According to numerous reports, vitamin C deficient people are more at risk of having SARS-CoV-2 or also known as COVID-19 because their immunity is impared. Vitamin C deficiency often leads to increased susceptibility to infections, poor wound healing and increased risk of pneumonia. Numerous research has suggested that up to 7% of the U.S. population are vitamin C deficient and this includes people that have cancer, diabetes inflammatory conditions, immunosuppression and smokers.

According to studies, certain cells in our immune system namely, phagocytes and T-cells, accumulate vitamin C to aid their performance. A deficiency in Vitamin C will lead to less resistance to multiple pathogens. 

It is also involved in production of hormones including norepinephrine and vasopressin that have a crucial role in cardiovascular system response to infection. 

Now that you know the importance of Vitamin C in our body, I am certain that the question “Will Vitamin C prevent me from having COVID-19?” are still left unanswered. Well on this next part, we will first provide you evidences about the effects of Vitamin C to COVID-19.

Evidences that will support taking vitamin C for COVID- 19

Throughout the years, there have been hundreds of studies about Vitamin C, which have conflicting results. The biggest issue regarding vitamin C studies is that most do not measure vitamin C concentrations before or after supplementation. With that, supplementation is unlikely to show any effects in people whose vitamin C levels are already high. 

Furthermore, COVID-19 is a new strain of the coronavirus family which means that it has a little amount of studies about it. But several studies in other infections or conditions suggest it may be beneficial in certain groups of people, particularly those who are vitamin C deficient and positive to COVID-19. Currently, there are two trials underway investigating the use of Vitamin C to treat severe COVID-19, one in New York and one in China. 

Research has shown that excretion of Vitamin C decreases during infections suggesting that more is utilized during times of need. So, now that evidence about the benefits of Vitamin C to multiple conditions have been provided, we must now know the symptoms of Vitamin C deficiency to be able to recognize people who badly need supplementation during this pandemic. 

SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY 

As a water-soluble vitamin, you can easily develop a deficiency as soon as 4 to 12 weeks. Studies have shown that hypovitaminosis C (low vitamin C levels indicated by a plasma vitamin C of <23 umol/L) is the fourth leading vitamin deficiency in the United States. 

Scurvy has killed two million sailors during the great voyages of discovery until Dr. James Lind, a Scottish surgeon in the Royal Navy proved in 1753 that citrus fruit successfully treats scurvy. However, vitamin C deficiency manifesting as scurvy is rare. 

HOW MUCH VITAMIN C SHOULD I BE TAKING?

According to theDietary Reference Intakes or DRIs, the recommended intakes of vitamin C have been developed by the Food and Nutrition Board. These are much higher than the amount required to prevent deficiency:

If we acquire infection or inflammation, our bodies will require more vitamin C. However, there are many factors that prevent the absorption of Vitamin C or increase a person’s requirement for it. The following are some of the factors:

• People with cancer or who have a compromised immune system
• People who drink alcohol daily or excessively
• People with diabetes
• People with lung conditions
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Smokers.

These people need to include an extra of 50-100mg of Vitamin C per day in their diet or in the form of supplements. 

TAKING TOO MUCH VITAMIN C CAN CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS

An amount of more that 2000mg of vitamin C per day can cause stomach aches, diarrhea or nausea. But, because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, an excessive intake will be excreted in the urine and over-supplementation rarely causes kidney stones. 

VITAMIN C CONTAINING FOODS

Fruits contain more Vitamin C than vegetables. Here are the following lists of foods that contain vitamin C (including the amount of Vitamin C they include). 

Overall, raw fruits and vegetables contain higher amounts of Vitamin C than boiled ones. Steaming and microwaving may also reduce vitamin C losses and prolonged storage can decrease Vitamin C levels. 

Scientists and doctors consider a diet that would supply you a 100-200 mg/day of vitamin C. This amount provides enough vitamin C to cover a healthy individual’s general requirements. In terms of people with medical conditions and who exercises a lot, increasing their dietary intake in Vitamin C must be considered. 

Many experts still favor whole foods supplements such as the list above because they have other vitamins naturally present in the foods and a necessity to our immune system such as rutin, bioflavonoids, and other factors that could aid absorption and utilization of vitamin C within our body. 

REFERENCES

1. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C, and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211. Published 2017 Nov 3. doi:10.3390/nu9111211
2. Vitamin C. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
3. Maxfield L, Crane JS. Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy) [Updated 2019 Nov 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493187/
4. Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):708. Published 2019 Mar 27. doi:10.3390/nu11040708
5. Maxfield L, Crane J. Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy) Nov 19, 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493187/ Vitamin C. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/