Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) + Good Sources of Vitamin C and Supplement Forms of Vitamin C

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What is vitamin C?

Vitamin C is the common name for ascorbic acid. People, along with other primates, guinea pigs, and birds, are unable to make vitamin C. Other animals and plants can make their own vitamin C from glucose. Vitamin C has long enjoyed popularity as a nutrition supplement and continues to be one of the most recognizable and sought after nutrients.

What are food and supplement sources of vitamin C? 

When we think of good sources of vitamin C, citrus fruits instantly come to mind. However, other fruits and some vegetables such as strawberries, tomatoes and broccoli can make a significant contribution to our vitamin C intake (see Vitamin C in Food Table). Ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid) is a popular nutrition supplement and there isn’t an advantage to supplementing vitamin C extracted from plants or synthetic (laboratory made) forms. Supplement makers often ascorbic acid-mineral combinations (e.g. sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate) that are less acidic than ascorbic acid. These forms can help people who find ascorbic acid to be irritating to their stomach.

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