Everyone knows that vitamin C plays a crucial role in the body. Many of us take vitamin C supplements (often ascorbic acid) to support our health. But is ascorbic acid really equivalent to natural vitamin C? Does ascorbic acid actually work as well, or is there a better solution to boost our immune system? You’ll find the answers here.

Synthetic vs. natural

The main difference between ascorbic acid and natural vitamin C is that ascorbic acid is an isolated chemical compound, while natural vitamin C is a complex of various compounds naturally present in foods. Although ascorbic acid has the same chemical structure as natural vitamin C, there are differences in their biochemical activity and absorption in the body.

In summary, natural vitamin C supplements contain not only vitamin C but also other bioactive substances, such as antioxidants, phytonutrients, bioflavonoids, polyphenols, and minerals. These additional substances have synergistic effects and enhance the absorption and effectiveness of vitamin C in the body. Therefore, it is preferable to choose a vitamin C supplement with one of the most complete natural vitamin C sources, such as amla, acerola, and camu camu. These berries are known for their extremely high vitamin C content.

Check out this video by Dr. Eric Berg on ‘The Best and Worst Vitamin C.’