Hello, my village people! It’s Dr. Okenye, your village doctor. I have come again. Today, I want to discuss another important vitamin with you. It’s vitamin C. Quite a few studies have suggested that vitamin C deficiency is actually not uncommon worldwide. There are 4 important functions of vitamin C you need to know about.
- It helps as an antioxidant, and when cells experience high oxidative stress, they use up this vitamin very quickly.
- It improves mood.
- It helps with iron absorption. Many premenopausal women are iron deficient, and Vitamin C helps improve iron absorption.
- It has a protective role against infection; there was a recent study published in 2021 in central Africa. In postpartum women and their kids were followed from delivery to 6 months of age. They found that infants with low vitamin C levels were at significantly higher risk of having a stool culture for enteric infections during the first 6 months of life. These enteric infections included bugs like salmonella, shigella, E.coli, campylobacter, cholerae, and others.
Sources of vitamin C include fresh fruits like guava, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, among others. Dietary deficiency of Vitamin C eventually causes scurvy, and signs of scurvy will include swollen and bleeding gums, joint pain. These patients require immediate large doses of vitamin C supplementation
You can also read Okenye’s post on “How to Know If You Are Vitamin B12 Deficient?” and The Sunshine Vitamin: Why You Need Vitamin D and How to Get It
Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor before starting any new medication or treatment. This publication and aurthors does not endorse or recommend any specific medication and is not liable for any adverse effects from the use of this information. You can learn more about Dr. Okenye.
