Since the 1940s, intravenous (IV) infusions and injections of vitamin C have been considered the gold standard of vitamin C delivery for one reason: IV delivery puts 100% of the vitamin C directly into the blood. This direct delivery method certainly offers an advantage over most oral delivery systems of vitamin C, but what really matters is the bioavailability of IV vitamin C. Although many doctors believe 100% delivery into the blood is the same as 100% bioavailability, this is not always true. Bioavailability indicates the amount of a substance that is absorbed by a target location within the body. This target location can be anywhere in the body… blood, cells, tissue, etc. For many drugs and nutrients, the target location is the blood. IV delivery does offer 100% bioavailability when blood is the target. However, for vitamin C, the target location is typically inside the cell – where free radicals, toxins, and pathogens do the most harm. While IV delivery puts 100% of the vitamin C directly into the blood, it does not guarantee 100% absorption into the cells.
IV vitamin C relies on the body’s active transport system to carry the vitamin C into the cells. This system uses transport proteins, called sodium-dependent vitamin C co-transporters (SVCTs), to carry vitamin C through special portals that lead to the inside of cells. The challenge with SVCTs is that they can only carry one molecule of vitamin C through one portal at a time, and the number of SVCTs and portals is limited. This means absorption of vitamin C into the cells (or, its bioavailability), may be severely restricted if there are not enough SVCTs or open portals available. It’s also important to understand that for vitamin C to benefit the health of the cell, it must be in its active (reduced) form. If the vitamin C has been rendered inactive (oxidized) during transport, it has lost the electrons it needs to function properly. The good news is that inactive vitamin C can become active again; the bad news is that it must take electrons from other antioxidants within the cell (i.e. glutathione) to do this.
This isn’t such a bad thing if you have tons of antioxidants just hanging out inside your cells, but this is not usually the case for anyone over the age of 25, or anyone with ill health. Let’s assume that a majority of the IV vitamin C makes it into the cells, and there are plenty of antioxidants on-hand to ensure the vitamin C stays active within the cells. The entire process of transporting vitamin C into the cells and reactivating inactive vitamin C consumes A LOT of valuable energy within the cell. Since an ample supply of cellular energy is necessary to stay alive, the energy used in this process needs to be replaced as quickly as possible. So what do vitamin C experts recommend when you need high-doses of vitamin C delivered into the blood and the cells? Two things: IV vitamin C (if available) and liposome encapsulated vitamin C. Liposomes are tiny spheres made from Essential Phospholipids. They form a double-layer membrane around active vitamin C, and protect it from destruction in the digestive system.
Because the liposome membrane is made of phospholipids – the same material that makes up the cellular membrane – the liposome is able to bypass the body’s active transport system (those SVCTs and portals we mentioned earlier) and incorporate itself directly into the cell membrane. When this happens, the vitamin C that’s inside of the liposome is delivered directly into the cell in its active state (it has all of its electrons), and without using a lot of cellular energy. Since IV vitamin C offers 100% delivery directly into the blood, and liposome encapsulated vitamin C offers superior, energy-efficient delivery into the cells, they can work together to optimize the level of vitamin C in the body. If IV vitamin C is not an option for you, not to worry, high doses of liposome encapsulated vitamin C can offer significant benefits by itself. Ascorbic Acid Injection, USP 500mg/mL, SDV, 50mL Vial FOR INTRAVENOUS, INTRAMUSCULAR OR SUBCUTANEOUS USE. DESCRIPTION: Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin.
It occurs as a white or slightly yellow crystal or powder with a light acidic taste. Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) is an antiscorbutic product. On exposure to air and light it gradually darkens. In the dry state it is reasonably stable in air, but in solution it rapidly oxidizes. Ascorbic Acid is freely soluble in water; sparingly soluble in alcohol; insoluble in chloroform, ether, and benzene. The chemical name of Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) is L-ascorbic acid. The molecular formula is C6H8O6, and the molecular weight is 176.13. Ascorbic Acid injection (vitamin C for injection) is a clear, colorless to slightly yellow sterile solution of Ascorbic Acid in Water for Injection, for intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous use. Each ml contains: Ascorbic Acid 500 mg, Disodium Edetate 0.25mg, Sodium Hydroxide 110mg, in Water for Injection q.s. pH (range 5.5-7.0) adjusted with Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Hydroxide. CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: In humans, an exogenous source of ascorbic acid is required for collagen formulation and tissue repair.
Ascorbic acid is reversibly oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid in the body. These two forms of the vitamin are believed to be important In oxidation-reduction reactions. The vitamin is involved in tyrosine metabolism, conversion of folic acid to folinic acid, carbohydrate metabolism, synthesis of lipids and proteins, iron metabolism, resistance to infections, and cellular respiration. INDICATIONS AND USAGE: Ascorbic acid is recommended for the prevention and treatment of scurvy. Its parenteral administration is desirable for patients with an acute deficiency or for those whose absorption of orally ingested ascorbic acid is uncertain. Symptoms of mild deficiency may include faulty bone and tooth development, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and loosened teeth. Febril states, chronic illness, and infection (pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, sinusitis, rheumatic fever, etc.) increases the need for ascorbic acid. Hemovascular disorders, burns, delayed fracture and wound healing are indications for an increase in the daily intake.