All vitamins are organic compounds, and five of the 13 vitamins are acidic. Vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, and vitamin B9, or folic acid, are acidic because they contain an organic compound structural feature called a carboxyl group--designated COOH. Two other B vitamins, B3 and B7, are acidic for the same reason. Vitamin C, otherwise known as ascorbic acid, does not contain a carboxyl group, but instead gets its acidity from a different type of structural feature.
Vitamin C
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, vitamin C is one of the water-soluble vitamins and it's essential for maintaining good health. Vitamin C must be part of your daily diet because your body can't make its own supply. Collagen is a pivotal element of blood vessels, bones, ligaments and tendons, and vitamin C is a necessary building block for collagen. A deficiency of vitamin C in the diet may in turn lead to a deficiency of collagen. Insufficient collagen can compromise the formation of blood vessels, bones and connective tissue, and this would show up in the symptoms of a disease called scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy include easy bleeding and bruising, loss of hair and teeth, and joint pain and swelling. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and as such it protects your body's DNA and other vital molecules from damage caused by oxygen-free radicals.
Dietary sources of vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, broccoli and potatoes. The recommended dietary allowance is 90 mg per day for men and 75 mg per day for women.
Vitamin B5
Vitamin B5 aids in the metabolism of the carbohydrates, proteins and fats that you consume in your daily diet, and it also plays a part in the maintenance of healthy skin, explains MedlinePlus. Its acidity helps to make it a water-soluble vitamin. Dietary sources include meat, vegetables, cereal grains, eggs and milk. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B5 for adults is 5 mg per day. It is usually included in a multivitamin supplement that contains all eight B vitamins.
Vitamin B9
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B9 is a water-soluble vitamin that is needed for mental and emotional well-being and for proper brain function. Its water solubility is in large part due to the two acidic functional groups it contains in its organic chemical structure. Another important aspect of folic acid is the role that it plays in the growth and development of a fetus during pregnancy. Insufficient folic acid during pregnancy is associated with low-birth weight and defects in the neural tube--the part of the fetus that is the precursor to the brain and spinal cord. The recommended dietary allowance of folic acid is 400 mcg a day for adults, but it increases to 600 mcg per day for pregnant women. Dietary sources include spinach, asparagus, whole grains, kidney beans, salmon, orange juice and milk. In the United States, grain and cereal products contain added folic acid. You should not take a folic acid supplement without first consulting your doctor.
References
- New World Encyclopedia: Vitamin C: The Structure and Properties of Ascorbic Acid
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin C
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Science and Technology: Pantothenic Acid
- MedlinePlus: Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
- University of Bristol, Bristol, UK: Folic Acid
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
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