Overview

A six carbon compound related to glucose. It is found naturally in citrus fruits and many vegetables. Ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient in human diets, and necessary to maintain connective tissue and bone. Its biologically active form, vitamin C, functions as a reducing agent and coenzyme in several metabolic pathways. Vitamin C is considered an antioxidant.

Indication

Used to treat vitamin C deficiency, scurvy, delayed wound and bone healing, urine acidification, and in general as an antioxidant. It has also been suggested to be an effective antiviral agent.

Associated Conditions

Common Cold
Deficiency, Vitamin A
Deficiency, Vitamin D
Fever
Flu caused by Influenza
Folate deficiency
Iron Deficiency (ID)
Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
Oral bacterial infection
Scurvy
Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin Deficiency

Research Report

Published: Jul 28, 2025

A Comprehensive Monograph on L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): From Chemical Structure to Clinical Application

Introduction and Historical Context: The Conquest of Scurvy and the Identification of a Vital Molecule

Overview of L-Ascorbic Acid

L-ascorbic acid, universally known as Vitamin C, is an essential water-soluble vitamin and a small molecule drug cataloged under DrugBank ID DB00126.[1] It is a six-carbon compound structurally analogous to glucose, which is indispensable for human health.[1] Unlike most vertebrates, humans lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase, which catalyzes the final step in ascorbic acid biosynthesis, making it an essential nutrient that must be obtained exogenously through diet.[3] Its fundamental physiological roles are vast and critical, encompassing the maintenance of connective tissue and bone, functioning as a primary reducing agent and coenzyme in numerous metabolic pathways, and serving as one of the body's most potent and vital antioxidants.[1]

The Historical Scourge of Scurvy

Continue reading the full research report

Clinical Trials

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Title	Posted	Study ID	Phase	Status	Sponsor
Vitamin C for Prophylaxis of Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation in On-pump Cardiac Surgery Procedures	2010/04/21	NCT01107730	Phase 3	Completed	Attikon Hospital
Treatment of Reperfusion Event by Vitamin C Infusion	2010/03/23	NCT01090895	Phase 4	UNKNOWN	University of Roma La Sapienza
Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury of Human Endothelium: Role of Glucose and Statins	2009/10/15	NCT00995670	Not Applicable	Completed	US Department of Veterans Affairs
Prophylaxis to Reduce Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation in Cardiac Surgery	2009/08/06	NCT00953212	Phase 3	Completed	MaineHealth
Vitamin C for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in the Spinal Cord Injured	2009/03/26	NCT00869427	Phase 4	Terminated	Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital
Arsenic Trioxide With Ascorbic Acid and Melphalan for Myeloma Patients	2008/04/18	NCT00661544	Phase 1	Completed	M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Does Ascorbic Acid Reduce Sympathoexcitation in CHF?	2007/10/26	NCT00550121	Not Applicable	Completed	Radboud University Medical Center
Impact of Ascorbic Acid on Post-Cardiothoracic Surgery Inflammation	2007/08/22	NCT00519337	Phase 4	Completed	Hartford Hospital
Clinical Utility of Endothelial Dysfunction in PAD	2007/06/26	NCT00491751	Phase 1	Terminated	Boston University
Study of High-Dose Intravenous (IV) Vitamin C Treatment in Patients With Solid Tumors	2007/02/28	NCT00441207	Phase 1	Completed	Midwestern Regional Medical Center

FDA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Manufacturer	NDC Code	Route	Strength	Effective Date
Ocuvel	Adler-Stern Pharmaceuticals, LLC	69054-211	ORAL	250 mg in 1 1	12/2/2014
Myhephron Dialysis and Stress Supplement	Martin Ekwealor Pharmaceu	58607-185	ORAL	100 mg in 1 1	8/4/2016
Prometa	PureTek Corporation	59088-172	ORAL	120 mg in 1 1	2/8/2023
Vitrexate	PureTek Corporation	59088-167	ORAL	120 mg in 1 1	1/11/2023
St. Paul Brands Verestor	Advanced Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Dba Affordable Quality Pharmaceuticals	13411-861	ORAL	100 mg in 1 1	3/31/2025
Multivitamin with Fluoride	WINDER LABORATORIES, LLC	75826-169	ORAL	24 mg in 1 1	8/27/2025
Prenara	Sterling-Knight Pharmaceuticals, LLC	69336-352	ORAL	100 mg in 1 1	3/9/2020
JBA Collagen-Electrolyte Mocktail	Advanced Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Dba Affordable Quality Pharmaceuticals	13411-848	ORAL	100 mg in 12 g	3/31/2025
Multi-Vitamin with Fluoride	Method Pharmaceuticals, LLC	58657-326	ORAL	35 mg in 1 mL	12/12/2023
PRENATE Restore	Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC	75854-308	ORAL	85 mg in 1 1	1/7/2021

EMA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Authorization Holder	Status	Issued Date
No EMA approvals found for this drug.

HSA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Manufacturer	Approval Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
No HSA approvals found for this drug.

NMPA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Company	Approval Number	Drug Type	Dosage Form	Approval Date
No NMPA approvals found for this drug.

PPB Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Registration No.	Company	Licence No.	Strength	Registration Date
No PPB approvals found for this drug.

TGA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	ARTG ID	Sponsor	Registration Type	Status	Registration Date
COLES COUGH, COLD & FLU Day & Night soft gel caps	299328	Nova Pharmaceuticals Australasia Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	2/5/2018
Lifetime Women's Daily Multivitamin	299957	Lifetime Pharmaceuticals	Medicine	A	2/23/2018
CINCRO FORTE	292916	Contract Manufacturing & Packaging Services Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	8/17/2017
Cellgevity	294661	Max Health & Living Australia Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	10/5/2017
BN Caps	393440	Pracmed Healthcare	Medicine	A	8/4/2022
Bioglan Medlab Manuka-C	391036	Natural Bio Pty Limited	Medicine	A	6/21/2022
Coles Vitamin B+C	290821	Kruger ANZ	Medicine	A	6/30/2017
WAGNER BILBERRY & LUTEIN +	287536	RF Six Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	4/5/2017
Ultimé Lung Care	399008	Australia Biotechnology Group Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	11/8/2022
Centrum Advance 50+	402931	Haleon Australia Pty Ltd	Medicine	A	1/23/2023

Health Canada Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Company	DIN	Dosage Form	Strength	Market Date
HEMATONE THUNAS	thuna herbal remedies ltd.	00190438	Capsule - Oral	50 MG / CAP	12/30/1992
FLORAVIT - SYR	flora manufacturing and distributing ltd.	02164590	Syrup - Oral	21.2 MG / 20 ML	5/28/1995
EXITOX TAB 200MG	nutri-dyn products ltd.	00560693	Tablet - Oral	200 MG / TAB	12/31/1982
FORMULA R.I.T.	creative nutrition canada corp.	01990772	Tablet - Oral	400 MG / TAB	12/31/1994
GNC WOMEN'S FORMULA - TAB	general nutrition canada inc.	02197197	Tablet - Oral	125 MG	11/26/1997
GRIPPALIN & C TAB	distributions multi-pro inc.	00742430	Tablet - Oral	50 MG / TAB	12/31/1988
ENRICH CORE PACK FEMALE	enrich international	02242544	Capsule - Oral	50 MG / CAP	N/A
CHILDRENS CHEWAB VITAMIN W CHEL MINERALS	anabolic laboratories inc.	00526673	Tablet - Oral	75 MG	12/31/1981
CARD-FLOE II TAB	sisu inc.	02036533	Tablet - Oral	400 MG	12/31/1994
CENTRUM PROTEGRA	whitehall-robins inc.	02237700	Tablet - Oral	125 MG / TAB	10/29/1998

CIMA AEMPS Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Company	Registration Number	Pharmaceutical Form	Prescription Type	Status
No CIMA AEMPS (Spain) approvals found for this drug.

Philippines FDA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Company	License Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
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Saudi SFDA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Company	License Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
No Saudi SFDA approvals found for this drug.

Malaysia NPRA Drug Approvals

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Approved Product	Company	Registration Number	Dosage Form	Strength	Approval Date
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UK EMC Drug Information

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Medicine Name	MA Holder	MA Number	Pharmaceutical Form	Active Ingredient	Authorization Date
No UK EMC drug information found for this drug.