The Vitamin C Molecule

      Fruits such as oranges are known for being a go-to when fighting or preventing a cold during the cold winter months due to their high content in vitamin C. But what exactly makes this substance so beneficial, and why do our bodies need it?

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       An article published by Cleveland Clinic summarizes the health benefits of consuming vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, especially when it comes to young children and early development. For example, this vitamin helps in the formation of blood vessels, cartilage and muscle, as well neurotransmitters, the biochemical that are at the core of signaling between the nervous system and the rest of the body. Also, unlike most vitamins, our bodies cannot produce it on their own - they must be consumed through foods or supplements. Furthermore, cells of the immune system contain a high concentration of ascorbic acid, which leads to believe that vitamin C serves as a sort of immunity-boosting chemical, although the process behind is still unclear. In fact, there is little evidence proving that this vitamin has any role in the prevention or treatment of the common cold. What it does do, however, is prevent scurvy, a condition that children are particularly vulnerable to, which results in tiredness, soreness, bleeding from mucous membranes, bone pain and even jaundice. As this disorder can develop at a very early stage of life, it is essential for children to consume foods with enough vitamin C. Scurvy is very rare nowadays, seeing how it is usually a result of severe malnourishment in developing countries. The article goes into more depth while debunking myths surrounding this substance, such as its supposed ability to cure cardiac cancers, and why the over-consumption of it can be dangerous. For more information on the properties of vitamin C, please visit the link below.

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     In chapter 8 of our chemistry textbook, we learned about solutes, solvents and solutions. As well, we learned that although water will dissolve many substances, it is limited to other polar and ionic substances. Most oils and fats are non-polar, and will serve as solvents for non-polar substances. Ascorbic acid is a polar substance, unlike most other vitamins (A, D, E and K). This means that it will readily dissolve in water and in our bodily fluids. This might seem like a good thing, but it is in fact a "biological nuisance". Other non-polar vitamins can be readily stored in our body fats and only used up when needed, even if they at not produced by our body. On the other hand, any vitamin C not used immediately will simply continue down our digestive track and be excreted as waste. Due to this acid's polarity, we require a constant input of it to stay healthy. The chemical formula for ascorbic acid is C₆H₈O₆, and its chemical structure can be seen below.

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      As an aspiring animal biologist, I am fascinated by the mechanisms inside of our bodies, from the digestion of different foods to the process of ventilation and gas exchange, that in the end, make complex life possible. Therefore, seeing how we might benefit (or be damaged) from the different nutrients we consume and why our bodies require them in such specific quantities is quite interesting. However, what I find the most intriguing is to discover that in some cases, like vitamin c, their properties can be widely exaggerated. While personally I do believe that this vitamin does play a role in our immune system, whatever it might be, this article helped me realize that some of the facts I have heard about its biological benefits are untrue (again, such as curing cardiac cancers). Furthermore, if we require this vitamin in such large quantities, then why hasn't the human body developed the ability to produce them on its own yet? This leads me to think that perhaps other animals might have this ability, such as carnivores that due to their diets might not have enough access to it, as it is mainly found in fruits. 

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     I leave you with this question to think about: if vitamin c was non-polar, do you believe it would be beneficial to our bodies or damaging? Feel free to share your opinions on the comments below!

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For more info, please visit https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2017/12/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c-why-your-child-needs-it/

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