NOW Foods Vitamin C-500 Calcium Ascorbate-C

NOW Foods Vitamin C-500 Calcium Ascorbate-C

Name: NOW Foods Vitamin C-500 Calcium Ascorbate-C
Brand: NOW Foods
SKU: 733739006769
Price: 7.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Brands: NOW Foods

£7.99

NOW Foods' take on a daily dose of vitamin C and supplemental calcium, in a caps format that is easy to keep to day after day.

Why people take it

Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system
Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones and cartilage
Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
Vitamin C increases iron absorption
Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones and teeth
Calcium contributes to normal muscle function
Calcium contributes to normal neurotransmission

How to use

Take as directed on the pack, ideally with food and at the same time each day.

Good to know

Choose from 2 sizes: 100 caps / 250 caps
Format: caps
Caffeine free

A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated dose. Keep out of reach of children.

Size: 100 caps

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Categories : Caffeine-Free Supplements, Calcium Supplements, Everyday Health Supplements, NOW Foods, Vitamin C Supplements, Vitamins & Supplements

SKU: 733739006769

At a glance

Moderate

evidence for vitamin c

Our honest take

A capsule giving 500 mg of vitamin C as calcium ascorbate, a buffered, less acidic form, with 55 mg of calcium and a little citrus bioflavonoid. That is a more sensible dose than 1,000 mg products and still far more than the 80 mg reference intake. Buffered vitamin C can be gentler for people whose stomach reacts to plain ascorbic acid, but it is not absorbed any better.

Plain vitamin C upsets your stomach
You want a moderate daily dose rather than 1,000 mg
You rarely eat fruit and vegetables
Plain vitamin C suits you fine: it is cheaper and works the same
You have had kidney stones or have iron overload (haemochromatosis): ask your GP first
You already eat plenty of fruit and vegetables: you are unlikely to notice a difference

The science

Vitamin C· evidence: Moderate

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, or mineral ascorbates such as sodium, calcium or magnesium ascorbate) is an essential vitamin found in fruit and vegetables. Adults need about 40 mg a day in the UK, and most people who eat fruit and vegetables get enough. The body cannot store much, and absorption falls off at higher doses, so the extra from a 1,000 mg tablet is largely passed in urine.

The best evidence on colds (a Cochrane review) found that taking vitamin C every day does not stop most people catching colds, but may shorten them slightly. People doing very heavy physical exercise are the exception, where regular vitamin C roughly halved the number of colds in trials.

A supplement makes sense if your diet is low in fruit and vegetables, if you smoke, or around periods of hard training. Most people do not need mega-doses, and fancy forms (liposomal, ester or buffered) have little evidence of meaningful benefit over plain ascorbic acid, though buffered forms can be gentler on the stomach.

Authorised health claim
Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones. Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Vitamin C increases iron absorption. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 12 mg.) Vitamin C contributes to maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise (applies where the daily intake is 200 mg in addition to the recommended daily intake).

Typical dose: The UK reference intake for adults is 40 mg a day (NRV on labels: 80 mg). Supplements commonly give 200 to 1,000 mg.

Safety: The FSA advises that 1,000 mg (1 g) a day or less from supplements is unlikely to cause harm. Higher doses can cause stomach pain, diarrhoea and wind. People with a history of kidney stones, haemochromatosis (iron overload) or kidney disease should speak to their GP before taking high doses. Chewable and powder forms are acidic and can affect tooth enamel.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Vitamin C. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c
Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(1):CD000980.
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for vitamin C. EFSA Journal 2013;11(11):3418.
Carr AC, Vissers MCM. Synthetic or food-derived vitamin C: are they equally bioavailable? Nutrients 2013;5(11):4284-4304.

Ingredients & nutrition

Per daily dose (1 capsule): vitamin C (from calcium ascorbate) 500 mg (625% NRV); calcium 55 mg (7% NRV); citrus bioflavonoid complex 10 mg. 100 or 250 capsules, 100 or 250 daily doses at 1 a day.

Other ingredients: hypromellose (cellulose capsule), microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Always check the pack you receive, as manufacturers sometimes update recipes.

How to use

Take 1 capsule a day; the label allows up to 3, but 1 is plenty for most people. Do not exceed 3 capsules a day.

Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. General information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.