Immune Health: The Essential Role of Vitamin C - NL-095
We are all well-aware of the legendary reputation of vitamin C in boosting immunity and strengthening the body’s defenses against opportunistic infections and diseases. No wonder it is one of the most preferred supplements (along with vitamin D3), especially during the flu season. Studies show that increasing vitamin C (and Vitamin D3) intake reduces the severity of respiratory infections such as the common cold. But for now, let’s explore how vitamin C keeps our immune system strong and healthy.
Vitamin C supports various cellular functions involved in both the natural and adaptive parts of the immune system. For example, it improves the production and efficiency of white blood cells. It also controls the production of cytokines and other proteins that regulate inflammation and immunity. In fact, vitamin C’s role in lowering inflammation is directly related to its ability to strengthen, balance and modulate the immune system.
Chronic inflammation, as we know, makes the immune system go awry and turn on itself, triggering auto-immune responses where the body attacks and damages healthy tissues.
In addition, Vitamin C works as a powerful antioxidant and protects the cells of the immune system from oxidative damage. When your body fights an infection, the immune cells release very powerful free radicals to destroy pathogens. While this is one of the ways immune cells neutralize pathogens, it creates oxidative stress in the immune cells. In fact, as one of the most potent antioxidants, vitamin C reduces overall oxidative damage and inflammation in the cells and tissues, two key factors known to weaken and destabilize immunity.
Vitamin C improves skin immunity as it plays a key role in maintaining a healthy skin-barrier, the body’s first line of defense against pathogens and toxins. It is also required for collagen synthesis and repair, which facilitates faster wound healing.
Vitamin C is required for folic acid synthesis, and also helps in iron absorption. Both iron and folic acid help maintain healthy immunity.
Vitamin C supports your immune as well as overall health in many ways. Vitamin C protects your cardiovascular health, keeps your bones healthy, reduces inflammation in the joints, reduces stress and anxiety and prevents gout attacks. It also maintains eye health and slows down the onset of age-related eye diseases such as cataracts. Most of these vitamin C health benefits are due to its role in fighting oxidative damage, reducing inflammation and collagen synthesis.
Vitamin C is such a critical and versatile micro-nutrient that its deficiency results in many body-wide symptoms such as muscle aches, joint pain, fatigue, and headaches. A more severe deficiency can lead to delayed wound healing, swollen gums and impaired immunity that makes you susceptible to catching frequent cold and other infections.
Our body can’t make or store vitamin C and that’s why we either need to consume several servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily to maintain healthy levels of vitamin C or take a high-quality liposomal vitamin C supplement to boost your vitamin C levels and help you maintain healthy immune functions.
- See et al. A comprehensive review and recent advances of vitamin C: Overview, functions, sources, applications, market survey and processes. Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 2024.