9303. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. It is involved in hormone synthesis and the metabolism of fats, amino acids, and vitamins; it acts as an antioxidant and detoxifying agent, helps maintain the strength of blood vessel walls, and affects immune system function.

This test is used to detect vitamin C deficiency, which may manifest as bleeding gums, skin rashes, dry skin, muscle pain, loosening and loss of teeth, weakened immunity, and signs of anemia. Vitamin C levels should be assessed together with an evaluation of other vitamins.

Vitamin C plays a key role in many vital functions of the body, including:

• maintaining the immune system (it stimulates the production of leukocytes, which fight infections, and enhances their effectiveness);
• collagen synthesis (necessary for the formation and repair of connective tissue, including the skin, bones, cartilage, and blood vessels);
• antioxidant protection (protects cells from damage caused by free radicals produced during metabolism and under the influence of external factors such as pollution and radiation);
• iron absorption (improves the absorption of non-heme iron from plant-based foods);
• participation in the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters (necessary for the production of certain hormones and substances that transmit nerve impulses).

Since the human body cannot synthesize vitamin C on its own, we obtain it from food, primarily from fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin C testing may be indicated in the following cases:

• diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) (severe vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy, which manifests as weakness, fatigue, bleeding gums, tooth loss, bruising, joint and muscle pain, and slow wound healing);
• assessment of vitamin C status in at-risk groups (groups at risk of vitamin C deficiency include people with an unbalanced diet who consume few fruits and vegetables; individuals with chronic gastrointestinal diseases that impair nutrient absorption; smokers, as smoking increases the body's need for vitamin C; older adults who may have a limited diet; individuals who abuse alcohol or drugs; and patients undergoing hemodialysis);
• monitoring the effectiveness of treatment for vitamin C deficiency (after vitamin C supplementation has been prescribed, a blood test may be used to monitor the restoration of normal vitamin C levels in the body);
• testing in certain diseases (in some cases, in certain chronic diseases or conditions, a physician may order a vitamin C test to assess its role in pathogenesis or to monitor the patient's condition);
• assessment of antioxidant status (rarely) (although vitamin C is an important antioxidant, other methods are generally used for a comprehensive assessment of antioxidant status).

• Assessment of ascorbic acid status, therapy monitoring, monitoring of oral ascorbic acid intake (assessment of individual intestinal vitamin C absorption capacity), inflammation and increased gum bleeding, impaired wound healing, weight loss, anorexia, and tooth mobility.
• Edentulism, smoking, alcoholism, thyrotoxicosis, dialysis, pregnancy, breastfeeding, type 1 diabetes mellitus, hemorrhagic rash, a tendency to bleeding (nasal or oral mucosal), general deterioration in well-being, and increased fatigue.
• Decreased immunity, fasting, an unbalanced diet, capillary fragility, petechiae, bruising, purpura, and dryness of the oral mucosa.
• Dry eye syndrome, joint pain, diseases of the small intestine (Crohn's disease, celiac disease, Whipple's disease), and older adults.

• Venous blood

In order to exclude factors that may affect the test results, we recommend to follow the preparation rules: