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Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and is important for skin and bone health, as well as immune system function.

Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C: one-half of a medium grapefruit provides you with about half of the Daily Value (DV), and a 250 ml glass of 100% grapefruit juice provides almost 60% DV.

  • Vitamin C is an antioxidant and works with other vitamins and enzymes in the body to provide antioxidant protection.1-4
  • Vitamin C plays a key role in supporting a healthy immune system to help the body resist infection. 1-4
  • Vitamin C is thought to have an anti-histamine effect,1,4,5 and may help support lung function.1,6 
  • Vitamin C supports collagen production, which is needed for the maintenance of healthy skin, bones, and gums.1-4 Collagen breakdown in the skin may lead to the appearance of premature ageing.7
  • The absorption of iron from plants may increase when consumed with vitamin C.1-4 Thus, eating grapefruit with plant foods that are high in iron, such as dark leafy greens or lentils, may help your body absorb more iron.
  • Vitamin C needs greatly increase during breastfeeding.1
  • Vitamin C intake by mothers may influence the amount of vitamin C in breastmilk;8 for example, drinking 3-5 servings of orange juice per week doubled breast milk vitamin C concentrations.9
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References

  1. Vitamin C. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine.Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids.Washington, D.C.:National Academy Press; 2000:95-185.
  2. Vitamin C. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center.Oregon State University. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C).
  3. Lykkesfeldt et al.Adv Nutr 2014; 5:16-18.
  4. Vitamin C. Health Professionals Fact Sheet.Office of Dietary Supplements.National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
  5. Chatterjee et al.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.1975;258(1):24-47.
  6. Hemila, BMJ Open.2013;3:002416.
  7. Dermatologic Therapy.2007;20:314-321.
  8. Bravi et al.Am J Clin Nutr 2016;104:646-62.
  9. Daneel-Otterbech et al.Am J Clin Nutr.2005; 81:1088-1093.