The Miracles of Vitamin C

The Chemical composition of the molecule
The precursor molecule to the protein collagen, procollagen, contains an unusual amino acid sequence in that every third amino acid is a glycine and contains a high frequency of two amino acids not found in any other proteins - hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine. These latter two amino acids are converted from proline and lysine, respectively, after the procollagen molecule has been synthesized. The hydroxylation of proline and lysine in procollagen is carried out by the enzyme prolyl hydroxylase using vitamin C as a cofactor.

Vitamin C deficiency results in an underhydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen which results in a lower melting temperature of the resulting collagen fibers which causes a breakdown of the protein collagen needed for connective tissue, bones and dentin, the major portion of teeth. Collagen is a cementing material that binds cells together, and is an essential connective tissue protein in the body. Whenever the body is wounded, collagen glues the separated tissues together to form a scar.

Deficiencies of Vitamin C
A lack of collagen causes the walls of the body's blood capillaries to break down and hemorrhaging occurs in cells throughout the body. When capillaries lose the "glue" that holds them together, symptoms of scurvy appear. And how in the world is scurvy relaetd to Vitamin C, well the answer is quite simple, scurvy, also called the vitamin C deficiency, is of the most serious diseases affecting teenagers today. Caused by a dietary lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), a nutrient found in many fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly the citrus fruits. Ascorbic acid is important in the formation of collagen (an element of normal tissues), and any deficiency interferes with normal tissue synthesisAn affected person becomes weak and has joint pains. Internal hemorrhages can also cause black-and-blue marks to appear on the skin.

At the first visible signs of scurvy, raised red spots appear on the skin around the hair follicles of the legs, buttocks, arms and back. While tiny capillaries of the hair follicles hemorrhage, the hair-producing cells do not receive the nourishment needed for the hair to grow normally. Consequently, the skin becomes flecked with small lesions that begin to appear on the body after about five months on a diet deficient in vitamin C. Gums bleed horribly and their tissues become weak and spongy. Dentin, lying below the enamel and is part of the root of teeth, breaks down. And all of this havoc is simply created thanks to your lack of effort in inducing your body with Vitamin C.

There are several benefits of letting your body consume the much needed Vitamin C. The initial effects can be denoted, once you notice a marked increase in your immune system, making you less prone to common colds and flu. It is because of the fact that Vitamin C gets evaporated from your body through your urine, that makes it an important pill to pop in. You'll also notice that it makes you look a lot more lively, and radiates a shine on your skin. Removal of toxins and the cleansing system can never be better with Vitamin C. You'll also notice that you tend to have even more shinier hair once you start with Vitamin C supplements.

A boon for people prone to black heads and white heads as a glassful of Vitamin C in luke warm water can enable that your insides are clean, something essential to drive the sebum away from the layers of your skin! You'll also notice that the best shampoos and face washes have some Vitamin C droplets that allow you to scrub the grime off your face! Worth trying I must say!