Vitamin C capsules: What’s in vitamin supplements?

Vitamin C is really important. So important even that our body does not function without the nutrient. Normally, you get the vitamin through the diet, but that’s not always enough. In this case, dietary supplements are an alternative: vitamin C capsules,tablets or effervescent powder.

But the offers are numerous and often confusing. Which preparations work best? What is buffered vitamin C all about? Capsules or tablets? And more importantly, when should you even take extra vitamin C?

To keep track of the purchase is admittedly not so easy. For this reason, we have summarized everything here that you should consider with vitamin C capsules and other preparations.

First, let’s look at when supplementing vitamin C makes sense.

When should you even take vitamin C capsules?

With a healthy metabolism and a balanced diet, you should automatically get enough vitamins. This also applies to ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C.

Nevertheless, the National Consumption Study II, which examined the diets of almost 20,000 participants from 2005 to 2007, came to the conclusion that there is a need to catch up when it comes to the supply of vitamin C in Germany.

How can that be?

Although the vitamin is present in numerous foods, it is partly destroyed by heat. Thus, even with a healthy diet, a vitamin C deficiency can occur if the ingredients are only absorbed in cooked form.

As far as nutrition is concerned, it is therefore particularly important to have fresh fruits and vegetables regularly on the menu.

In addition, the vitamin C requirement is not the same for every person. Pregnancy, smoking, or simply physical exertion can cause your body to need more ascorbic acid.

If you notice symptoms such as susceptibility to infections, muscle pain or frequent fatigue, you should consult your doctor. There could be a vitamin C deficiency behind it!

Vitamin C capsules can effectively help you make up for this deficiency.

The vitamin contributes to the normal functioning of a number of important processes in the body:

• Protection of cells against free radicals
• Immune system
• Metabolism
• Formation of collagen for skin for skin and bones

Vitamin C supplements are available like sand by the sea

The world of vitamin C supplements is diverse. From capsules for oral use to vitamin C cream for the skin, there is a lot to be found. For internal use, there are, for example:

• Vitamin C capsules or tablets
• Vitamin C powder (as effervescent)

For use on the skin you will find:

• Vitamin C Cream
• Vitamin C Spray

At this point, it should be noted that in this article we limit ourselves to preparations for ingestion, so capsules, tablets and powders.

The effect of these supplements is basically very similar: the vitamin C, mixed with other ingredients, comes into the stomach and further into the digestive tract, where it is then absorbed into the body in the intestines.

Especially when it comes to vitamin C capsules and tablets, the selection is huge. There are differences mainly in the dose contained, but also in the type of vitamin C that is used.

But that’s not all.

A buzzword that can be found in capsules, tablets and also powders is that of “buffered vitamin C“. Products with buffered vitamin C are also sometimes a bit more expensive than other vitamin C supplements.

But what exactly is behind it and in which case should you buy such capsules?

Is buffered vitamin C better?

Buffered vitamin C means that a buffer has been added to the vitamin, which makes it better tolerated. In this case, the ascorbic acid is provided with salts or minerals, through which the vitamin C compound becomes almost PH-neutral and thus less acidic.

As a result, the supplement is better tolerated by the stomach and intestines even in higher doses.

So normal vitamin C capsules and capsules with buffered vitamin C have the same effect. Due to the improved tolerability, however, the buffered variant is a good alternative for people who get digestive problems with normal supplements with an increased vitamin dose.

What are the advantages of capsules over tablets?

Speaking of vitamin C capsules, what advantages do capsules actually have over tablets or effervescent powder?

On the one hand, capsule shells can be individualized depending on the preparation. This means that based on the capsule shell used, you can “adjust” at which point in the digestive tract it dissolves and thus releases the active ingredient. This is how the nutrients get to where they should go.

In addition, the shell has other advantages, such as neutral smell and taste, which is independent of the active ingredient, as well as improved shelf life.

However, administering nutrients in capsule form has another decisive advantage: The ingredients can also be liquid. This opens up forms of treatment that are not possible with tablets or powders.

An application of this principle are liposomal nutrients. But what exactly does it mean?

What are the benefits of liposomal capsules?

Liposomes are microscopic bubbles that can transport various substances inside and, like our cells, are surrounded by a double membrane.

Liposomal capsules take advantage of this property by transporting active ingredients within the bubbles through novel production. This has different advantages:

• The liposomes protect the active ingredient from enzymes and acids on the way through the digestive tract
• Since the membrane shell resembles human cells, the active ingredients are “masked” and can be absorbed largely undamaged

As a result, liposomal vitamin C capsules have up to 30 times higher bioavailability compared to conventional supplements.

Because liposomal nutrients are liquid, they cannot be administered as tablets or powders. Capsules are clearly ahead of the curve here.

Whether vitamin C tablets or capsules: You should pay attention to this when buying

Whether you use the well-known effervescent powder or the modern liposomal product – there are a few things you should consider when choosing.

Finally, there are a few hints on how to find the right product for you. Finally, the guiding principle also applies to vitamin C: Keep your eyes peeled when buying capsules!

• Dietary supplements are not automatically vegan: even if you do not suspect it, they can contain animal substances. If you live vegan, you should make sure that the shell and not only the ingredient of capsules is vegan.
• Note information on storage and shelf life: If the expiration date is exceeded or stored incorrectly, supplements often lose their effect. This is especially true for products that are sensitive to heat or humidity.
• Read the dose of the active ingredient and the recommended dosage: This will help you avoid unnecessary overdose and ensure that your body gets everything it needs.