(1) Enhancing Collagen

Vitamin C is cofactor used in the synthesis of strong but elastic collagen, and its deficiency often causes impaired collagen formation. Collagen is vital to the formation of a beautiful complexion and flexible, tough bones that are less likely to suffer osteoporosis. (Skin aging is often caused by contracted or defective collagen. The signs of skin aging include the loss of moisture, complexion, and firmness, as well as dry skin, winkles, and the loss of clarity.)

(2) Inhibiting Melanin-pigment

Vitamin C inhibits formation of melanin pigment and deoxidizes dark-colored melanin into a colorless form. In this way, vitamin C combats spots and freckles.

(3) Helping Pregnant and Breast-feeding Mothers Metabolize Folate

The human body requires folate, a kind of vitamin, for cell division and growth. Many countries including the U.S. suggest that women anticipating pregnancy take added folate.

(4) Improving Blood Content

One third of women suffer iron-deficiency anemia. With the current abundance of food lacking in iron content, women are recommended to take vitamin C directly after meals to stimulate iron absorption.

(1) Curbing the Rise of Blood Pressure

Taking abundant vitamin C while blood pressure level is normal is an effective way to control the rise of blood pressure. (How exactly vitamin C curbs the rise of the blood pressure is still uncertain.) Stress is one of the causes of high blood pressure that be minimized with the intake of vitamin C. People with hypertension and fragile blood vessels have a higher chance of vascular bleeding, but vitamin C helps the body build and maintain strong and elastic blood vessels capable of withstanding high blood pressure.

(2) Improving Blood Flow

Vitamin C prevents blood clots from forming by dissolving clots and improving blood flow, playing an important role in preventing brain and heart diseases associated with blood vessel problems stemming from daily habits. Blood clots can cause brain and heart infarctions.

(3) Boosting White Blood Cell Function

White blood cells contain vitamin C, which is greatly reduced when the body becomes infected. Taking abundant vitamin C will increase vitamin C content in the white blood cells, boosting their power. White blood cells engulf and kill foreign substances such as bacterial pathogens, so an adequate dose of vitamin C will boost the body’s immune system.

(1) Antistress Effect

Stress significantly decreases vitamin C content stored in the body when the pituitary gland and adrenal gland, having the highest vitamin C concentration, try to counteract the stress. This action causes the body of those under stress to require more vitamin C.

(2) Vitamin C Concentration in the Brain

The brain is an organ highly concentrated with vitamin C, which plays an important role in brain function relating to intelligence, learning, memory, and autonomic nerve function. Poor intake of vitamin C causes a deficiency of vitamin C in the brain, and eventually leads to declines in mental and intellectual functions, as well as slowdowns in mental response and psychomotor functions. In other words, the brain would suffer intellectual deterioration as well as memory decline or loss. Some patients suffering from schizophrenia use up vitamin C too quickly, leading to a drastic vitamin C deficiency in the brain. Ingesting vitamin C can provide an effective remedy. In some cases vitamin C has been used to treat depression, such as in the U.S. and Canada, where vitamin C is prescribed for psychiatric treatment.

(3) Vitamin C and Treatment of Dementia

Senile dementia is a cognitive disorder caused by aging of the brain. There are two major types of dementia: cerebrovascular dementia is prompted by vascular change or damage, while Alzheimer-related dementia (SDAT) involves brain shrinkage. There are currently no effective methods to cure dementia, but several functions of vitamin C on the brain have recently been brought into focus for their potential effects on this illness.

Reference: "New Vitamin C and Health – Healthcare in the 21st century" from Kyoritsu Shuppan (Author: Akira Murata)