Vitamin-C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble micronutrient with various physiological functions arising from its ability to donate electrons.
Foods naturally high in Vit-C:
Peppers, Citrus fruits, Kiwi, Berries, Papaya, Guava
Oxidants refer to highly reactive molecules that steal electrons from other substances. Our body is exposed to oxidants from various sources including:
Vit-C neutralises oxidants by donating an electron and forming itself a stable radical that gets neutralised by the body's universal antioxidant Glutathione (a tripeptide)
Collagen is a helical protein that provides structural strength and elasticity to our skin, bones, muscles, ligaments and organs.
Vit-C is needed for proper Collagen synthesis because it helps keep the hydroxylase enzymes active. These add -OH molecules to Lysine and Proline amino-acids in Collagen, which help form hydrogen bond interlinking between collagen helices.
Adaptive immunity is a reaction specific to a pathogen (e.g., bacteria/virus), involving antibodies from B lymphocytes and T-helper cells to regulate the reaction.
Vit-C helps with the proliferation and maturation of these immune cells through activating Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) enzymes by maintaining the oxidation state to Fe²⁺.
Innate immunity is a generic reaction that treats all pathogens equally.
Vit-C plays key offensive and defensive roles in:
Our body uses hormones and neurotransmitters to communicate internally. Key molecules include:
To produce these molecules, a pathway through amino-acids Tyrosine and Tryptophan modifies these molecules with different Vit-B and Vit-Cs as chemical catalysts.
