Do you think the type of vitamin C matters?

[rainne]

I'm very very reluctant to add any new supplements to my plan/life/kitchen cupboard/budget, but I'm seriously thinking of adding vitamin C.

Last time I bought some, I bought chewable tablets, and one of my vitafiend friends thought that was laughable. The time before, I bought timed-release tablets. I think I later read somewhere that timed-release in vitamin C is nothing more than a silly marketing ploy.

So, what is your advice? Chewable or no? Ester-C or just whatever?

Thanks so much.

[doreen T]

Chewable vitamin C tablets are a bad idea for 2 reasons ... (a) they're sweetened with sugar and/or fructose (in the form of concentrated fruit juice) .. and (b) ascorbic ACID, in combination with sugar is bad news for the enamel on your teeth.

Time-release vitamins have the potential to not be completely dissolved in the digestive tract ... they have an extra-hard coating that delays absorption (hence the "time-release" aspect). Generally this is not a problem, but there have been occasional reports of supplements appearing out the other end undigested :eek:

Ester-C and other mineral ascorbates (a.k.a. buffered vit. C) have their merits .. and for persons with absorption problems or excess stomach acidity these might be a better choice. Otherwise, once the vitamin is in the bloodstream, there's no difference with ordinary ascorbic acid.

You can read more info. about the benefits of vit. C and recommended dosages here (http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=294).


hth,

Doreen

[rainne]

You have a real knack for clarity, Doreen. Thank you.

I'm really happy to have that link, too. I'm off to read.