About the Product
Marvelous Nutrition's Vitamin C is a supplement of pure L-ascorbic acid in HPMC vegetable capsules, with an absolutely minimalist composition: L-ascorbic acid as the only active ingredient, magnesium salts of fatty acids as an anti-caking agent, and an HPMC capsule. Zero unnecessary additives, zero colourings, zero sweeteners — just pure Vitamin C in its biologically active form (L-ascorbic acid) at the maximum concentration per capsule. 1 capsule with breakfast. 60 servings. Vegan.
Ingredients: L-ascorbic acid + Anti-caking agent: Magnesium salts of fatty acids + Capsule: HPMC.
Benefits
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid): the micronutrient with the highest number of documented physiological functions:
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, 2-oxo-L-threo-hexono-1,4-lactone-2,3-enediol acid) is an essential water-soluble vitamin — the human body does not synthesise vitamin C endogenously (due to evolutionary loss of the L-gulonolactone oxidase gene, the final enzyme in the ascorbate synthesis pathway) and is entirely dependent on dietary or supplementary intake. Vitamin C has the highest number of documented physiological functions of any micronutrient, covering everything from collagen synthesis and immune function to neurotransmitter metabolism and iron absorption. EFSA has approved multiple health claims for vitamin C, including support for normal immune function, contribution to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, contribution to normal collagen formation, reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and improvement of non-heme iron absorption.
Collagen synthesis: the irreplaceable role of Vitamin C as a cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases:
The most critical biochemical function of vitamin C for athletes is its role as an obligatory cofactor for prolyl 4-hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase — the enzymes that hydrolyse proline and lysine residues in pro-collagen chains to form hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine. Hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine are essential for the stability of the collagen triple helix (via hydrogen bonds and pyridinoline cross-links) and for the anchoring of collagen to extracellular matrix glycoproteins. Without sufficient vitamin C, collagen synthesis stops — prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases become inactive because vitamin C is needed to re-reduce the catalytic Fe²⁺ ion of these enzymes (oxidised to Fe³⁺ during the reaction) back to the active state. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body (~30% of total protein) and the structural component of tendons, ligaments, cartilage, skin, bone, vascular wall, and cornea — the entire structural integrity of connective tissue depends on continuous collagen synthesis. For athletes subjected to repeated mechanical stress on tendons and ligaments, and especially for those recovering from injury, adequate vitamin C dosage is critical for the rate of collagen synthesis and the speed of tissue recovery.
Extracellular antioxidant: vitamin C as the main aqueous antioxidant in plasma and interstitial fluids:
Vitamin C is the main water-soluble antioxidant in blood plasma and extracellular fluids — the "first line of defense" extracellular antioxidant before intracellular antioxidant systems (glutathione, thioredoxin, superoxide dismutase). It donates electrons to free radicals (especially superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, and peroxynitrite) converting into ascorbyl radical (relatively stable and not very reactive) and then into dehydroascorbic acid (DHA, oxidised). DHA is reduced back to ascorbic acid by reduced glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin, regenerating vitamin C and recycling antioxidant systems in an integrated manner. This ability to be regenerated by glutathione makes vitamin C part of an integrated antioxidant network with glutathione, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10 — each regenerating the previous one in the antioxidant chain.
Immunity: vitamin C as an immunomodulator and support for leukocyte function:
Vitamin C has extensively documented effects on immune function at multiple levels. It accumulates in concentrations 10 to 100 times higher than in plasma in leukocytes (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes) — which suggests specific functions in these cells that go beyond simple antioxidant protection. In neutrophils, vitamin C supports chemotactic migration to infection sites, phagocytosis, the production of reactive oxygen species for bacterial destruction (oxidative burst), and apoptosis after the immune response. In T lymphocytes, vitamin C supports proliferation and antibody production. The meta-analysis by Hemilä & Chalker (2013), published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews with data from over 11000 participants, documented that regular vitamin C supplementation (≥200mg/day) reduced the duration of the common cold by 8% in adults and 14% in children, and reduced its severity — with a more marked protective effect in athletes and populations subjected to intense physical stress (50% reduction in cold incidence in marathon runners, soldiers, and skiers).
Non-heme iron absorption: the enhancer of plant iron:
Vitamin C is the most effective enhancer of intestinal absorption of non-heme iron (iron from plant sources — legumes, cereals, green leafy vegetables — in contrast to heme iron from animal sources, which is absorbed independently of vitamin C). The mechanism is the reduction of non-heme iron from Fe³⁺ (insoluble and poorly absorbed) to Fe²⁺ (soluble and absorbed by the DMT1 transporter of the intestinal epithelium) by ascorbic acid in the acidic environment of the stomach. Co-ingestion of 200mg of vitamin C with a meal rich in non-heme iron increases iron absorption by 3 to 4 times — of particular relevance for vegetarian/vegan athletes who rely exclusively on non-heme iron, or for any athlete in a caloric deficit phase with reduced meat intake.
Neurotransmitter synthesis and cognitive support:
Vitamin C is a cofactor of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH), the enzyme that converts dopamine to noradrenaline. Without sufficient vitamin C, noradrenaline synthesis is compromised, which can affect focus, motivation, and stress response (noradrenaline is the central neurotransmitter of the sympathetic system and attention). Vitamin C is also a cofactor of peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM), the enzyme that activates multiple neuropeptides (corticotropin-releasing hormone, gastrin, vasopressin) by C-terminal amidation. For athletes undergoing intensive training with high metabolic expenditure of catecholamines, maintaining adequate vitamin C levels indirectly supports the function of the sympathetic-adrenal axis.
Uses
Recommended dose: Take 1 capsule with breakfast. Vitamin C is absorbed more efficiently in divided doses throughout the day (intestinal absorption of vitamin C is saturable — above ~200mg per dose the absorption percentage progressively decreases). For increased needs (athletes in very intensive training, periods of greater oxidative or immune stress), you can take 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule at lunch or dinner. 60 servings per package.
