Vitamin C tablets help prevent and treat scurvy, a medical condition caused by vitamin C deficiency, according to MedlinePlus, the online encyclopedia of the National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C can also be an effective treatment for improving iron absorption, and is possibly effective for lowering high blood pressure. However, the site adds, vitamin C is possibly ineffective at preventing the common cold and preventing prostate cancer. Vitamin C also comes liquid and injectable forms; consult your doctor before adding this or any supplement.
What Is Vitamin C?
The active ingredient in vitamin C tablets is ascorbic acid; indeed, ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. Fruits and vegetables are sources of ascorbic acid. Sources rich in ascorbic acid include citrus juices, green peppers, pineapple and acerola. The ascorbic acid in vitamin C tablets may be synthetic or derived from natural sources. Both sources are chemically identical, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains.
Amount of Vitamin C
The amount of vitamin C varies by the tablet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you can purchase vitamin C supplements in dosages between 25 and 1,000 milligrams. The University of Michigan Health System explains that the recommended daily intake for vitamin C, including from food sources, is 60 mg, and puts the suggested daily optimum dose of vitamin C in a multivitamin supplement at 100 to 200 mg.
Antioxidants
Vitamin C naturally contains antioxidants. This phytonutrient --- a nutrient found in plants --- blocks some of the damage from free radicals, according the University of Maryland Medical Center. Your body forms free radicals as a byproduct of transforming food into energy; this building may play a significant part in the aging process, the center adds.
Bioflavonoids
Certain vitamin C tablet formulations contain added bioflavonoids, a plant pigment. Manufacturers claim bioflavonoids increase the bioavailability --- or the degree to which the appropriate body tissues can use it --- of vitamin C, but Dr. Jane Higdon, a registered nurse and a research associate at the Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, explains insufficient scientific evidence exists to support this claim.
Chewable Vitamin C
Chewable vitamins contain sweetener to render them palatable. Manufacturers add natural sweeteners, refined sweeteners and artificial sweeteners, along with natural and artificial flavors, to give the supplement a more pleasant taste. The University of Michigan Health System warns that some chewable vitamin C varieties contain a greater amount of sugar than any other ingredient.
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