Ascorbic Acid

Category: vitamin

Aliases: Vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid, Sodium ascorbate

Pharmacological Mechanism

Cofactor for prolyl/lysyl hydroxylases (collagen synthesis), dopamine β-hydroxylase (norepinephrine synthesis — see catecholamine synthesis), and peptidyl α-amidating monooxygenase (neuropeptide maturation). Reduces Fe³⁺ → Fe²⁺ in the gut (boosts non-heme Fe absorption). Also acts as an aqueous-phase antioxidant and recycles alpha tocopherol from tocopheroxyl radicals. SVCT1/2 transporter saturates near 200 mg dose — absolute F falls above that.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 10h, IV: 10h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 80 mg (Range: 75–90 mg)
• IV: Typical 80 mg (Range: 75–90 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• digestive
• musculoskeletal

Interactions

• Iron (synergistic): Ascorbate potentiates non-heme iron absorption.

Pathways It Modulates

• Hepcidin / ferroportin iron regulation (cofactor) — reduces Fe³⁺→Fe²⁺ → ↑ duodenal DMT1 uptake
• Vitamin antioxidant axis (activator) — water-soluble antioxidant + collagen hydroxylase cofactor
• Wound healing cascade (cofactor) — collagen prolyl + lysyl hydroxylation; scurvy = impaired healing

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 54670067
• Formula: C6H8O6
• Molecular weight: 176.12 g/mol
• InChIKey: CIWBSHSKHKDKBQ-JLAZNSOCSA-N
• SMILES: C([C@@H]([C@@H]1C(=C(C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O

References

• PMID 15068981