Vitamin C ( Ascorbic acid )

Subject: Community Health Nursing II

Overview

A water-soluble vitamin is vitamin C. Its primary role is to promote tissue oxidation. Collagen production is also dependent on it. The major sources of vitamin C are fresh fruits and vegetables. Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency. The symptoms and signs of a vitamin C deficiency include tenderness in the bones and joints, bleeding into the joints and GI tract, and swollen and spongy gums. For a month, it can be treated with 250 mg of vitamin C four times per day.

Vitamin C ( Ascorbic acid )

A water-soluble vitamin is vitamin C. It is the vitamin that reacts to heat the greatest. Perhaps the only species known to need vitamin C in their diets are humans, monkeys, and guinea pigs.

Function

  • Vitamin C has an important role to plant in tissue oxidation.
  • It is needed for the formation of collageñ, which accounts for 25% of total body protein.

Source

The main source of vitamin C is fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables. Germination pulses contain a good amount. Amala is one of the richest sources of vitamin C both in fresh as well as dry conditions.

Deficiency

Scurvy

Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency. It affects those who haven't consumed any fruits, vegetables, or vitamin supplements for two to three months. Infants who are breastfed are protected because, unless the mother is vitamin C deficient, breast milk contains an adequate amount of vitamin C.

Sign and Symptoms

  • Swollen and spongy gums particularly the papillae between the teeth.
  • Subcutaneous petechial brushing, hemorrhage into joints or into the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Loss of appetite and weakness.
  • Tenderness of bones and joints.
  • Delayed wound healing.
  • There may also be emotional changes.

Treatment

  • Vitamin C 250mg 8 hourly for 30 days.

Prevention

  •  Daily use of vitamin C containing foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, amala etc.
  •  Heat destroyed this vitamin so such food should be eaten raw and eaten as soon after harvest as possible.

Reference

  • Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).
  • Dr.Suwal S.N. & Tuitui R. (2063) A Textbook of Community Health Nursing, 1st edition, Vidyarthi Prakashan (P). Ltd. Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu
  • Endres J.B & Rockwell R.E. (1985), 2nd edition, Food, Nutrition & the Young Child, Times Mirror/ Mosby College Publishing, Toronto, USA
  • Medline Plus. 05 January 2017 https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002404.htm
  • Web MD. 2005. 2017 http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c#1
Things to remember
  • A water-soluble vitamin is vitamin C.
  • The vitamin that is most susceptible to heat.
  • plays a crucial part in tissue oxidation and is necessary for the production of collagen.
  • The main sources of vitamin C are fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • The best source of vitamin C is amala.
  • Scurvy is caused by vitamin C deficiency.
Questions and Answers

Vitamin C is water soluble vitamin.

Its main function:

  • plays important role to plat tissue oxidation.
  • also needed for the formation of collagen.

© 2021 Saralmind. All Rights Reserved.