Viridian
Ester-C 550mg Veg Caps - 30

Highly effective, highly absorbable patented form of vitamin C. Ester-C is a neutral pH presentation of vitamin C, where the vitamin C is buffered to make it gentler on the stomach particularly where larger amounts are consumed. Ester-C is absorbed faster and retained for longer than regular vitamin C

Dosage

One negative side–effect of continued large doses of usual forms of vitamin C is gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhoea. These effects are due in large part to the acidity of ascorbic acid itself. As a mineral ascorbate, Ester-C circumvents many of these problems because it has a neutral pH. At the same time, this new process introduces an important metabolite of vitamin C so it is present along with ascorbate when the supplement is taken.

Potential applications

Histamine hyper-responsiveness in respiratory tract infections, allergic disorders, bronchial asthma, and ulcerative colitis. Common cold, the elderly, convalescence, high alcohol intake, stress, smokers (each cigarette destroys approximately 25mg of vitamin C), those exposed to excessive pollution, athletes, osteoporosis, wound healing, skin ulcers, pressure sores. Vitamin C has been found to be effective in treating male infertility.

Known contraindications

Vitamin C is extremely safe in most individuals. Claims that high-dose vitamin C regimens may lead to rebound scurvy, erythrocyte haemolysis, and vitamin B12 deficiency do not withstand scientific scrutiny.

Vitamin C supplementation may have adverse effects in thalassemia major, an iron-overload disorder.

High dose vitamin C regimens may increase urinary excretion of oxalic and uric acid although epidemiological investigations do not support an association between vitamin C supplementation and kidney stones.

Nausea, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramping are observed in a small percentage of subjects consuming over 3g vitamin C per day.

Interactions

Some medicines can be affected by vitamin C. Women on the contraceptive mini-pill should not take excessively large doses of vitamin C at the same time of day as this may reduce the pill’s effectiveness.

Upper safe level: 2000mg (long term usage); 3000mg (short term usage).

Vitamin C has been consumed in doses exceeding the European RDA (60mg per day) for many years without evidence of harm.

Non-heme (vegetarian) iron absorption from a single meal is enhanced 2-3 fold in the presence of 25mg- 75mg vitamin C. Vitamin C potentiates vitamin E activity in cells by regenerating alpha-tocopherol from its oxidised derivative. Vitamin C has also been shown to raise glutathione concentrations by 50 per cent with 500mg of vitamin C per day.