Do Vitamin C Supplements Work?: The Myths and Facts Revealed

Vitamin C is one of the most popular supplements on the market. It’s taken for several reasons from curing a common cold to improving athletic performance. But do vitamin C supplements work?

Let’s take debunk the myths around vitamin and look closer at the actual benefits of vitamin C supplements to help you decide whether adding vitamin C to your daily supplement regimen is right for you.

The Big Myth About Vitamin C

Let’s start by debunking the most popular myth around vitamin C supplements. Back in the 1970s two-time Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling wrote about how vitamin C can help stave off the common cold and even help prevent more serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. That suggestion definitely stuck!

However, the majority of recent studies have shown that while vitamin C might boost immune system function it won’t make you bullet-proof against the common cold.

Pauling along with a handful of other studies also claimed that Vitamin C might reduce the risk of certain cancers. Most studies, however, have suggested that vitamin C is not linked in any way to the prevention of cancer.

The Benefits of Vitamin C Supplements

With that aside, vitamin C still has its uses. It might not keep you safe from the flu, but let’s take a look at some of the science-backed benefits of vitamin C.

A Powerful Antioxidant

Vitamin C might not protect you from the common cold, but it can reduce the duration of its symptoms. This is because consuming vitamin C can increase the number of antioxidants present in the blood by up to 30%. Antioxidants work by protecting cells from free radicals.

For this reason, vitamin C is also commonly used in skin creams to protect against the effects of aging and sun damage.

Lowers Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease. Several studies have suggested that vitamin C supplementation can reduce blood pressure in both healthy individuals and people with high blood pressure.

It’s important to note that vitamin C shouldn’t be solely relied on to lower blood pressure, but can be beneficial as part of a healthier diet and lifestyle.

Fights Off Gout

Gout affects around 4% of American adults. It’s a form of arthritis that occurs when there is an excess of uric acid in the blood. Vitamin C has been showing to lower uric acid concentrations in the blood, thus helping to fight off gout. One study found that supplementing vitamin C can make you 44% less likely to develop gout.

Increase Iron Absorption

Some sources of iron are poorly absorbed by the body. Especially plant-based sources of iron. Vitamin C has been shown to increase iron absorption by almost 70%.

Even the absorption of vitamin C itself can be affected by how it’s taken. Studies have found that liposomal vitamin C (fat-soluble) can be absorbed more efficiently by the body. Visit https://leadingvitamins.com/best-liposomal-vitamin-c/ to find out more.

Do Vitamin C Supplements Work?

The short answer to the question “do vitamin C supplements work” is yes! Vitamin C supplements might not make you immune to the common cold, but it can certainly improve your immune system so that your body has a better chance of fighting it off quickly. It might not be the miracle vitamin that it was once touted as, but it is a worthwhile addition to your daily vitamin regimen.

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