The Natural vitamin C vs ascorbic acid debate has a long history. You listen to one side and you will be convinced that one is telling the truth.I have long heard that ascorbic acid is not the pure vitamin C. In fact, my recent readings has suggested that it is the shell of the whole vitamin C and the lack of the main ingredients will leach those in the body out. This is on the side of ascorbic acid being the exact same as the natural kind...
http://www.oralchelation.com/faq/data/data7.htm
Synthetic Vitamin C Versus "Natural" Vitamin C
It is possible to find vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in many different forms with any number of claims regarding its efficacy or bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to the degree to which a nutrient becomes available to the target tissue after it has been administered. Our conclusions about the various forms of vitamin C based on the available scientific evidence follow. More information and references are posted on the LPI Micronutrient Information Center.
• Natural vs. synthetic ascorbic acid: Natural and synthetic ascorbic acid are chemically identical. As assessed by at least two studies, there appears to be no clinically significant difference in the bioavailability and bioactivity of natural ascorbic acid and synthetic ascorbic acid.
• Different forms of ascorbic acid (powders, tablets, etc.): The gastrointestinal absorption of ascorbic acid occurs through an active transport process, as well as through passive diffusion. At low gastrointestinal concentrations of ascorbic acid active transport predominates, while at high gastrointestinal concentrations active transport becomes saturated, leaving only passive diffusion. In theory, slowing down the rate of gastric emptying (e.g. by taking ascorbic acid with food or taking a slow-release form of ascorbic acid) should increase its absorption. The bioavailability of ascorbic acid appears equivalent whether it is in the form of powder, chewable tablets, or non-chewable tablets. Moreover, bioavailability of ascorbic acid from slow-release preparations has not been found to be greater than that of plain ascorbic acid.
• Mineral ascorbates: Mineral salts of ascorbic acid (mineral ascorbates) are buffered and therefore less acidic. Thus, mineral ascorbates are often recommended to people who experience gastrointestinal problems (abdominal pain or diarrhea) with plain ascorbic acid. There appears to be little scientific research to support or refute the claim that mineral ascorbates are less irritating to the gastrointestinal tract. When mineral salts of ascorbic acid are taken, both the ascorbic acid and the mineral appear to be well-absorbed, so it is important to take into consideration the dose of the mineral accompanying the ascorbic acid when taking large doses of mineral ascorbates.
Continued...
http://www.oralchelation.com/faq/data/data7.htm
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I have taken vitamin C for all of my adult life. Now hearing this argument, makes me wonder if I have been wasting my money using ascorbic acid tablets. Here is the argument against synthetic vitamin C...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedoctorwithin.com/vitaminc/ascorbic-acid-is-not-vitamin-c/
Natural Whole Food Vitamins: Ascorbic Acid Is Not Vitamin C
This will be a short chapter, but after you’re finished with it, you will know more about vitamins than 95% of clinical nutritionists, doctors, supplement sales force, or bodybuilders. If that sounds arrogant or overstated, it really isn’t my fault. I'm just a messenger; a purveyor of information. Either I'm right or the 95% are right; can't be both.
Without further ado, here's the kernel: ascorbic acid is not vitamin C. Alpha tocopherol is not vitamin E. Retinoic acid is not vitamin A. And so on through the other vitamins. Vast sums of money have been expended to make these myths part of Conventional Wisdom. If you have several college degrees and all this is news to you, don't feel bad. Unless you think your education ended at Commencement. Which is generally true.
WHOLE VS. FRACTIONATED
OK, natural vs. synthetic. Let's start with Vitamin C. Most sources equate vitamin C with ascorbic acid, as though they were the same thing. They're not. Ascorbic acid is an isolate, a fraction, a distillate of naturally occurring vitamin C. In addition to ascorbic acid, vitamin C must include rutin, bioflavonoids, Factor K, Factor J, Factor P, Tyrosinase, Ascorbinogen, and other components as shown in the figure below:
ascorbinogen
bioflavonoids
rutin
tyrosinase
Factor J
Factor K
Factor P
VITAMIN C
In addition, mineral co-factors must be available in proper amounts.
If any of these parts are missing, there is no vitamin C, no vitamin activity. When some of them are present, the body will draw on its own stores to make up the differences, so that the whole vitamin may be present. Only then will vitamin activity take place, provided that all other conditions and co-factors are present. Ascorbic acid is described merely as the "antioxidant wrapper" portion of vitamin C; ascorbic acid protects the functional parts of the vitamin from rapid oxidation or breakdown. (Somer p 58 "Vitamin C: A Lesson in Keeping An Open Mind" The Nutrition Report)
Over 90% of ascorbic acid in this country is manufactured at a facility in Nutley, New Jersey, owned by Hoffman-LaRoche, one of the world's biggest drug manufacturers (1 800 526 0189). Here ascorbic acid is made from a process involving cornstarch and volatile acids. Most U.S. vitamin companies then buy the bulk ascorbic acid from this single facility. After that, marketing takes over. Each company makes its own labels, its own claims, and its own formulations, each one claiming to have the superior form of vitamin C, even though it all came from the same place, and it's really not vitamin C at all.
CONTINUED...
http://www.thedoctorwithin.com/vitaminc/ascorbic-acid-is-not-vitamin-c/
The following article talks about all vitamins vs their synthetic counterparts. However, it does concentrate on vitamin C and how even in oranges, for example, there is a different amount of vitamin C in each one, especially ones grown in different locations.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/natural-vitamins-synthetic.html
Natural Vitamins vs. Synthetic
By: Dr. George Obikoya
A significant number of the vitamins you will find on the pharmacy shelves these days are made synthetically through chemical processes, rather than derived directly from plants or other materials, although some manufacturers still produce natural vitamins. In fact, manufacturers of natural vitamins and some of their adherents claim they are superior to synthetic vitamins. Is there any substance in these claims?
It is rather difficult to make the distinction between "synthetic" and "natural" vitamins. Some define a natural vitamin as a concentrated nutrient derived from a quality natural source. The idea is maximum retention of the natural material; no artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives should be used.
A natural source contains co-factors that come with the nutrient in nature. For instance, some co-factors that are usually found with Vitamin C are various bioflavonoids. It is concentrated from its natural source as carefully as possible. No extreme heat, pressure, or possibly toxic solvents are used. There are no sugar or chemical tablet coatings. The nutrients are prepared from high quality raw ingredients. No artificial chemicals are added. Harsh binders and fillers do not hinder absorption.
Synthetic vitamins are made in a laboratory setting from coal tar derivatives. No co-factors are present. Most of the food supplements sold on the market today are synthetic and often cheaper to produce than natural vitamins.
CONTINUED...
http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/natural-vitamins-synthetic.html
And the argument continues. Here's "proof" that absorbic acid is not vitamin C and it doesn't actually help you. In fact, some claim that taking this "false vitamin C" may cause more harm than good...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.healthy-vitamins-rx.com/html/vitamin-c-synthetic-natural.html
Does Your Vitamin C Product Contain Real Vitamin C or Just Ascorbic Acid?
Does That Matter?
Well, your vitamin C supplement probably just has ascorbic acid, and does not actually contain any real vitamin C complex, and it does matter! If you are under a lot of stress or doing something that tends to deplete your body of C or have some of the symptoms of C complex deficiency, it may be a good idea to consider supplementation in addition to increasing the vitamin C in your diet. However, about 99% of all C vitamin products on the market today are synthetically made ascorbic acid - or variations such as calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate or potassium ascorbate. Despite marketing claims, these laboratory-produced powders like ascorbic acid are NOT natural C complex vitamin - and far from it. They are chemically synthesized molecules manufactured in a test tube and are often made from genetically modified corn sugar. These synthetic molecules mimic only one component of the multitude of life-supporting nutrient complexes found in real natural vitamin C complex. Although some people will go to great lengths to try to convince you that synthetic C such as ascorbic acid is the same as food source C complex, there is much evidence to the contrary.
Vastly Superior Benefits of Natural, 100% Whole Food Source C Complex
In the 1930's, Hungarian biochemist Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgi searched for the elusive nutrient factor that prevented scurvy and thus, won the Nobel Prize in medicine for identifying C and its many health benefits. Although he successfully isolated the structure of the ascorbic acid molecule in his research, his studies clearly demonstrated the vastly superior benefits of consuming foods rich in natural vitamin C, rather than the synthetic version. For this reason, even though he was the discoverer of ascorbic acid, he did not recommend its use! In fact, Dr. Szent-Gyorgi affirmed repeatedly that the best results occurred when people consumed C in its natural form as present in whole foods.
Today, many scientific studies have demonstrated the important health-enhancing and antioxidant benefits of the C complex vitamin. What many people may not know is that like Dr. Szent-Gyorgi's research, much of this research has been conducted using foods high in C, not synthetic ascorbic acid supplements. This is a very significant distinction - since many scientists and healthcare providers now emphasize the importance of obtaining all our nutrients from whole nutrient sources.
Test-Tube Vitamin C Like Ascorbic Acid- No Thanks!
The proven health benefits associated with the C vitamin are actually created by the intricate, complex symphony of phytonutrients and supportive co-factors naturally found only in whole nutrient sources, not in isolated, synthesized molecules. In short, test-tube, synthetic C such as ascorbic acid simply cannot re-create the magnificent synergy of a whole-nutrient C complex - from sources like camu-camu and acerola berries and barley grass.
Synthetic C Can Cause Health Problems Over Time
Don't go backwards. Taking synthetic ascorbic acid can make the body more acidic over time and steals from the body's calcium reserves, since the body must release calcium to neutralize the synthetic ascorbic acid. Higher acidity is associated with poorer health. Over time, taking synthetic ascorbic acid products may have negative effects on your health. Don't be fooled by products that advertise C products along with rose hips or acerola - they usually contain only token amounts of the "real" nutrients - you're still getting mostly ascorbic acid or synthetic C.
If the products you look for are not in our catalog we would be pleased to offer our custom synthesis service. 3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid
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