Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and cannot be stored in the body. Your body needs it for a variety of functions, so you must consume a daily supply. Any excess taken in is expelled in urine. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C can degrade and become lost in storage. The conditions under which you store your food products and supplements will determine the degree to which your vitamin C is lost before use.
In Your Body
The vitamin C you ingest is used by your body for cell cohesion, to maintain healthy bones and teeth, enhance wound healing, boost your immune system, help in iron and calcium absorption and to keep your blood vessels strong. Adult males need 90 mg of vitamin C per day, while adult females need 75 mg, and you can get your required amount from foods such as citrus fruits, dark green vegetables, potatoes, green peppers, strawberries and melons. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables should provide your daily vitamin C requirements, though supplements are available if you need to augment your diet.
Degradation
Your body's storage of vitamin C determines the rate at which it degrades, whether you get your vitamin supply from foods or a supplement. You can help minimize degradation by keeping vitamins in cool, dry places, keeping your fresh produce refrigerated and buying produce on an as-needed basis to reduce storage time.
Scientific Evidence
A French study in 1983 found that potatoes stored for three months at 12 degrees Celsius, or 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit, lost roughly 50 percent of their vitamin C, while storage for six to eight months resulted in a 65 percent vitamin C loss. A 2010 Brazilian study found that storage had the greatest impact on the loss of vitamin C content in vegetables.
Supplements
Vitamin C in supplements is susceptible to temperature and humidity, according to Dr. Lisa Mauer, associate professor of food sciences at Purdue University who conducted a study on vitamin C stability in 2010. Mauer found that the entire vitamin C content of a product could be lost in as little as a week if it is subjected to high enough humidity. Mauer recommends keeping your vitamins away from bathrooms and kitchens because of high humidity and temperature fluctuations.
References
- Colorado State University; Water-Soluble Vitamins; J. Anderson and L. Young, et al.; 2008
- "International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research"; Changes in Vitamin C...; P. Mareschi, et al.; 1983
- "Ciencia & Suade Coletiva"; Vitamin C Loss in Vegetables During Storage...; F. Moraes, et al.; January 2010
- Purdue University; Vitamins Stored in Bathrooms, Kitchens May Become Less Effective; March 2010
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