By now you have probably seen a lot of people claiming the benefits of Vitamin C or also called other names such as ascorbate and ascorbic acid.  Some articles even go as far as saying that if you consume "synthetic Vitamin c" that you won't get the benefits from the associated co-factors such as flavonoids present in fruit.  Many people are into purchasing the latest recommended form of Vitamin C, which is often merely marketing hype without realizing that obtaining Vitamin C in plain powder form and making your own capsules is as good as the latest hyped product such as "liposomal."  

One of the main factors all these hyped products neglect is: why aren't you absorbing it? It's likely first and foremost poor gut/intestinal health blocking absorption.Relying on a consumerist mindset and purchasing the latest expensive fad form of anything is likely to cause you to eventually stop consuming it due to its high cost as well as lack of availability.

The truth is that each person has their own specific metabolic requirements and virtually none of the people in North America are meeting their RDA intake requirements by diet alone and there are many reasons for that.  Only a small percentage of people in North America are obtaining their Optimal Daily Intake (ODA) which varies and is much higher than the sickly RDA set by governments.

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Some would say consuming 10,000 mg of Vitamin C tablets per day is extreme. That would to be inaccurate because if you tried eating that amount per day from produce and fruit from your supermarket it would not last very long mainly because you would be on the toilet quite often.  Again, you don't know what is inside those conventional or organic fruits and vegetables and you don't know if your body is absorbing it or not.  This is one of the big problems with so-called "natural health" gurus is that they aren't speaking about the scientific measurements!  In fact, goats and other animals, when under stress or suffering from injury, produce more than 200,000 mg vitamin C per day.  They were not hit by the genetic accident that happened to humans about 100,000 years ago that halted our ability to automatically produce it  from glucose.

These people don't know the details including how humans can no longer synthesize vitamin C from glucose as we did in the past.  They also don't know the technical details on what your body needs at any specific time because our needs vary on an hourly to daily basis.  Specific requirements are only found with tests on chiefly your blood and immune system components such as white blood cells.

The biggest reason is that the industrialized food supply in North America is just that -- industrialized and engineered to be only pleasing to the eye and to the obscene profit margins of this industry.  First, as we spoke about previously, the University of Oregon is one of many universities keeping track of the nutrient profiles of foods and how much people need on an statistically average basis. It shows that on average, the US population that does not meet the abysmally low RDA or recommended daily intake in Vitamin C stands at about 40%.  Remember this is only the RDA and not the optimal statistical average. 

A US national survey, NHANES 2007-2010, which surveyed 16,444 individuals four years and older, reported a high prevalence of inadequacies for multiple micronutrients (see Table 1). Specifically, 94.3% of the US population do not meet the daily requirement for vitamin D, 88.5% for vitamin E, 52.2% for magnesium, 44.1% for calcium, 43.0% for vitamin A, and 38.9% for vitamin C. For the nutrients in which a requirement has not been set, 100% of the population had intakes lower than the AI for potassium, 91.7% for choline, and 66.9% for vitamin K. The prevalence of inadequacies was low for all of the B vitamins and several minerals, including copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc (see Table 1). Moreover, more than 97% of the population had excessive intakes of sodium, defined as daily intakes greater than the age-specific UL (26).

Your requirements as an individual are likely much higher!  In fact, a large portion of people around the world need significant more than the RDA and they may need to obtain this and other nutrients in other ways to make it readily absorbable by the body in other ways including tiny shots, suppositories, patches and others.

Now onto the technical aspects of an article I recently read.  This article in particular is clearly a marketing ploy to dissuade consumers from purchasing any plain-jane Vitamin C because they claim it is "synthetic " and devoid of co-factors such as flavonoids found in fruit.  Instead of them advising what I did above, they will persuade you to purchase their specific proprietary version at a drastically higher price with little to no proof that their version is better or if it contains the proper amounts of flavonoids that your body needs.

"If you are learning this for the first time, it can be a rather shocking realization as almost all vitamin C supplements on the market use isolated ascorbic acid separated from a whole food source. The manufacturing process that produces synthetically derived vitamin C leaves all the beneficial co-factors behind! Synthetic vitamins such as ascorbic acid act more like drugs in the body rather than whole food nutrients with all the available co-factors. Taking any synthetic vitamin can cause imbalances in the body and should be avoided. Healthy Home Economist"

This is yet another piece of poor scientific journalism that further leads people into apathy.  The biggest is because of the nutrient depletion and absorption problems food and people have, respectively, many would have to orally consume an unrealistic amount of foods high in Vitamin C -- let alone the others you are deficient or imbalanced in from other denatured food sources. 

The solution is to obtain supplement in other ways and can be orally with tablets you make yourself with powder, or those you purchase as a high markup at the local health food store.  This is a very general guideline because to truly find out more about your health, you would need to order a more detailed micro-nutrient profile of chiefly your blood.

This is the confusing propaganda that misleads us all

There's no such thing as a "balanced diet" & nutrition isn't merely food. Why is that? It's because we're all individuals. Orthomolecular nutrition is the individualized analysis application of the substances within the food which our bodies often do not obtain enough of and are often blocked by antagonists.

What Sets Natural Vitamins Apart from Synthetic Ones?

This topic often stirs up some controversy. To be honest, the distinction is a bit complex. Many vitamin supplements, even those found in health food stores or sold by various distributors, primarily consist of synthetic vitamin powders. The production of these powders is largely dominated by a handful of major pharmaceutical companies.

Generally speaking: a) Vitamins created in labs tend to be significantly less expensive than those derived from whole food sources; b) Synthetic vitamins typically perform quite effectively, c) High potency can be achieved in a conveniently small tablet form.

A key difference between “health food store” brands and those from “drug stores” lies in what’s excluded from the tablet. For instance, natural brands often avoid artificial colors, which is a positive choice. Almost all brands include fillers and excipients necessary for the tablet's structure. To discover the specific ingredients used, it’s best to contact the company directly. Common tableting agents include magnesium stearate, sodium citrate, dicalcium phosphate, cellulose, and silica. I consider these fillers to be sufficiently "natural" for my preferences.

Interestingly, vitamins can be labeled as “Natural” even if they are produced in a lab. It may seem surprising, but it’s true.

Take vitamin C, for example; it is synthesized from starch. Since starch is a natural substance, the resulting product can be classified as “Natural.” Is this starch-derived vitamin C the same as that found in orange juice? Most biochemists would argue yes, because: 1) They share the same molecular structure, 2) Vitamin C in animals is synthesized from carbohydrates, 3) The product is clinically proven to be effective.

Yes, we do need flavonoids in addition to the Vitamin C, but that doesn't stop you from consuming some fruit throughout the day.  The point is that fruit and food in general in at least North America -- because of this industralized denaturing of food -- is significantly lacking in what we need on a general guideline, but even more so on an individual basis.  The point is that yes, generally speaking, all components of fruit are necessary for your body, but Vitamin C is one of the most important.  As we all know, this isn't a perfect world and consuming Vitamin C itself in absence of the other components in the denatured fruit, isn't bad or good.  It's the fact that your body needs far more than it will get from food or from very expensive supplements you will statistically stop taking once the novelty wears off.

The process of creating vitamins at the molecular level differs significantly. Factories do not extract L-gulonolactone oxidase from animal liver to produce vitamin C, nor do they replicate the metabolic processes of orange trees. Can a different method yield an equivalent product? Absolutely. However, the crucial question remains: does the vitamin you have effectively prevent and treat illness?

Researchers like Drs. Linus Pauling, Ewan Cameron, and Robert Cathcart have demonstrated that high doses of synthetic ascorbic acid can effectively combat viral and bacterial infections. While it’s possible that vitamin C derived from food sources might be more beneficial, let’s consider a scenario where it is twice as effective. Relying on 40,000 milligrams of vitamin C from orange juice instead of 80,000 milligrams of synthetic ascorbic acid is impractical and nearly unfeasible.

The cost of producing such a quantity from oranges or consuming that many would be prohibitive. To get 40,000 milligrams of vitamin C, you would need about 600 oranges. Even if the natural form were ten times more effective—which I seriously doubt—you would still need to consume over 100 oranges daily. What do I suggest?

When you're feeling unwell, consume as many oranges and other vitamin C-rich fruits as possible while also taking large doses of affordable supplemental ascorbic acid. In certain instances, the natural version of a vitamin is indeed superior to its synthetic counterpart. A prime example is vitamin E. The natural variant, known as "D-ALPHA TOCOPHEROL," is derived from vegetable oil, while the synthetic version is labeled as DL-alpha tocopherol.

The difference in nomenclature may seem minor, but substantial evidence suggests that the natural "D" (dextro- or right-handed) form of vitamin E is significantly more beneficial for the body than the synthetic alternative. Although the natural form tends to be slightly more expensive, the price difference is not substantial.

When selecting a vitamin E supplement, it’s essential to scrutinize the entire label, as many products that appear natural may actually contain the synthetic form.

Corn Allergy, Genetically Modified Organisms, and Corn-Derived Vitamin C: Unveiling the Truth.

True allergic reactions to corn are quite rare, while sensitivity to it is more common. Many individuals mistakenly believe they have a corn allergy when they may not. The proteins found in corn, known as prolamins or zeins, share amino acid sequences similar to those in wheat gluten. If you're experiencing issues, it's advisable to get tested. A positive skin test for corn and the presence of corn-specific IgE antibodies in your blood may indicate sensitivity, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have a true allergy. Being sensitive is a valid reason to steer clear of corn and its derivatives. Corn protein is not considered a highly allergenic substance, and reactions to the minimal amounts found in most foods are uncommon. This is why corn is widely used; it is generally regarded as safe and unlikely to provoke adverse reactions in most consumers.

If you've taken a specific supplement and encountered issues, I completely acknowledge your experience. It's wise to read labels and consider trying different brands, as there are numerous options available. However, we should refrain from making any brand recommendations as you might find that you have sensitivities to certain tableting ingredients, excipients, or fillers. When it comes to vitamin C, you can sidestep these concerns by opting for pure ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate powder.

Even if the source is corn, rest assured that the final product, C6H8O6, contains no corn or corn proteins whatsoever. If you're worried about GMO corn, here's something to think about: even if the ascorbic acid is derived from GMOs, which I personally do not support, the molecular structure remains unaffected.

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms cannot be genetically modified, nor can the physical bonds between them. "Genetic" modification pertains to genes, which are significantly larger than vitamin C. In fact, if you were to stretch out your DNA, it would be nearly as tall as you. The same cannot be said for a vitamin C molecule. In essence, C6H8O6 contains no GMO elements at all.

Disadvantages and advantages of Vitamin C delivery methods

Enamel erosion can lead to issues such as tooth discoloration and increased sensitivity. Unfortunately, once tooth enamel is lost, it cannot be restored. However, you can halt the progression of erosion through dental care and proper oral hygiene, though relying solely on "toothpaste" is rarely sufficient. Acid erosion occurs when the outer layers of teeth dissolve chemically, independent of bacterial activity.

Frequent and prolonged exposure to demineralizing agents like vitamin C can result in considerable wear on your teeth. This is a significant reason why consuming fruit juices, particularly those rich in vitamin C, may not be advisable, as it often contradicts the belief that all nutrients should be ingested through food. Some of these different and often forms of nutrient delivery to the body  are trans-dermal (skin), micro injection (under the skin; subcutaneous), supository (the anus), sublingual (under the tongue).  

Why Only Concentrate on Vitamin C? Why Does So Much Marketing Only Recommend Nutrients When You "Get Sick?"

Contemporary medical practices are heavily influenced by Cartesian philosophy, which posits a separation between the mind and body. While this perspective can be beneficial for research purposes, it often falls short when it comes to preventing and treating health problems. Regrettably, the current healthcare system tends to prioritize symptom management over a holistic approach, treating patients as mere statistics and offering limited preventive or acute care options. The issue lies in the fact that many individuals adhere to generalized health advice without seeing significant improvements. Why is this the case?

The answer is that they often lack personalized support, which is available here. Many people fail to recognize that health information is frequently delivered in a narrow, "one-size-fits-all" format. A crucial point that is often overlooked is that each person has a unique lifestyle, work-life balance, and distinct biochemical makeup shaped by their individual circumstances. What works for one person may not have the same effect on another, underscoring the necessity of acknowledging our differences.

References:

http://www.doctoryourself.com/corn.html

http://www.doctoryourself.com/synthetic.html