Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin obtained from foods such as citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C is also available as a dietary supplement in the form of vitamin C powder, capsules, tablets, syrup or in an oral solution. It is an essential vitamin that cannot be made in the body but must be taken in the diet. According to Drugs.com, vitamin C provides many health benefits, including wound healing, its effect as an antioxidant and to prevent or treat scurvy.
Wound Healing
Vitamin C powder is an essential compound for tissue growth and repair. It plays an important role in wound healing, the absorption of iron and in promoting healthy bones and teeth. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it works to heal wounds, promote the formation of collagen that benefits the repair and production of body tissues such as the skin, tendon, cartilage, ligaments and blood vessels, and the maintenance of bones and teeth.
Antioxidant
Vitamin C powder is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body and those affecting the body from the environment, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution and the ultraviolet rays from the sun. Free radicals are byproducts normally produced during the conversion of food into energy. Free radicals damage cell tissues and contribute to the aging process and the development of health conditions such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The antioxidant effects of vitamin C powder help the body to fend off the ravages of free radicals and diminish the risks of their effects.
Scurvy
A diet deficient in vitamin C will cause scurvy, with symptoms of lethargy, painful muscles and joints, loose teeth, painful bleeding gums, skin bruising and bleeding under the skin, according to Drugs.com. Vitamin C powder is a treatment that will begin to ease the symptoms of scurvy within 24 to 48 hours and resolve the condition within seven days. Treatment for scurvy should be done under strict medical care and supervision, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common side effects of vitamin C powder may include upset stomach, nausea and vomiting as well as diarrhea.
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