Orange juice contains many different vitamins and nutrients but is best known for its high ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, content. Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that your body cannot store it. Whatever you consume but cannot immediately use, your body will excrete. A cup of natural orange juice contains about 124 mg of vitamin C, or 207 percent of the recommended dietary intake. Vitamin C plays an important role in the prevention of disease and has antioxidant properties. Too little vitamin C in your diet can lead to deficiency diseases, while too much vitamin C can cause unwanted side effects.
Disease Prevention
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, vitamin C may play a significant role in the prevention of some chronic diseases. Vitamin C may help prevent cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and stroke, by improving vasodilation. Vitamin C may also play a role in the prevention of cancer, especially when consumed in its natural form found in fruits such as oranges. Vitamin C may also help prevent cataracts, gout, lead toxicity and diabetes.
Antioxidant
Scientists consider vitamin C to be a powerful antioxidant, binding to free radicals that can cause cellular damage. As a result, vitamin C significantly boosts your immune system, making your body more resistant to oxidative stress and toxins that can cause diseases as well as the common cold. Immune cells contain vitamin C in high concentrations, where it promotes the formation of lymphocytes, or white blood cells.
Deficiency
A deficiency in vitamin C results from a lack of intake of ascorbic acid through natural sources, such as orange juice, or vitamin supplement sources. Severe vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy, a disease that presents itself as bruising, joint pain and swelling, and hair and tooth loss. According to the National Library of Medicine, vitamin C deficiency can also cause anemia, bleeding gums, decreased immunity, dry or splitting hair, gingivitis, nosebleeds, weight gain, rough skin and weakened tooth enamel.
Precautions
Although vitamin C is water soluble, consuming upwards of 2,000 mg a day may cause gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea, gas or stomach upset. Excess vitamin C may also increase iron absorption, which can have adverse reactions to some medications and individuals suffering from hemochromatosis, or too much iron in their body. Vitamin C may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, antacids, barbiturates, chemotherapy drugs, nitrates, oral contraceptives, protease inhibitors and some antibiotics. Consult your physician before consuming large amounts of vitamin C from orange juice or any other source if you are taking medications.
References
- "The Bodybuilder's Nutrition Book"; Franco Columbu; 1985
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin C
- "Nutrition for Health, Fitness, and Sport"; Melvin H. Williams; 2002
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin C; Jane Higdon; 2006
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin C
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