Sugar and ascorbic acid are both nutrients, but they have nothing else in common. They contribute to nutrition in vastly different ways and therefore require completely different approaches in integrating them into your diet. In fact, their differences make it crucial that you do not confuse one with the other.
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. As a water-soluble nutrient, the body releases excess from the body with urine, requiring daily consumption. Your body requires ascorbic acid to produce the protein it uses to form and develop skin, ligaments, tendons and blood vessels. The body also uses vitamin C to repair cartilage, bones and teeth as well as heal wounds and manufacture scar tissue. Vitamin C also boosts immunity and acts as an antioxidant. Adult women should have 75 mg per day of vitamin C, whereas adult men should have 90 mg per day.
Sugar
Sugar is the primary source of fuel for the body. When you eat food, your body converts the carbohydrates in your meal, including simple and double sugars, starches, and fiber into glucose, a simple sugar. Some foods contain glucose, requiring no conversion, and most double sugars and starch contain glucose. Your body absorbs the glucose into your bloodstream through your small intestine. This causes your pancreas to release insulin, which signals cells to absorb the glucose. Once cells absorb glucose to capacity, your body converts the remaining glucose into glycogen, which is a short-term energy source, and stores that in muscles and the liver. Once your body stores glycogen to capacity, it converts the remaining glucose into fatty acids, which it stores in fat cells. Ideally, you should never eat enough carbohydrates that the body will need to convert any remainder into fat.
Comparisons
It is imprudent to consume more than 2 g of ascorbic acid per day, as it can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, gas and other gastrointestinal disturbances. However, this is a rather large amount obtainable only through supplements. There are no chronic or terminal conditions associated with vitamin C consumption. Diets high in vitamin C may actually prevent the common cold, cancer and osteoarthritis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
On the other hand, you should never consume inordinate amounts of sugar. High blood sugar is a condition called hyperglycemia. It causes an increase in thirst and urination and if left untreated, can lead to ketoacidosis, which is a diabetic coma. Symptoms of ketoacidosis onset include fruity breath, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and a very dry mouth. Inordinate consumption of sugar and carbohydrates over time can cause weight gain and diabetes.
Considerations
Although sugar and ascorbic acid are completely different, they often appear together in fruits and vegetables. These foods are nutritious, because they contain both a vitamin as well as fuel. In essence, sugar is not necessarily less healthy than vitamin C; rather, it depends on how you eat sugar. Foods that contain only sugar, like candy -- or worse, only sugar and fat, such as desserts like cookies and cake -- can be harmful. However, foods that contain both carbohydrates like sugar and vitamins like vitamin C can promote health while providing you the energy you need to function.
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