Vitamin C Retard 40 tablets YAMAMOTO

Vitamin C Retard is a high-dose vitamin C dietary supplement in slow-release coated tablets. Vitamin C supports the normal function of the immune system and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

With winter approaching, the race to ward off colds, seasonal illnesses, and flu-like symptoms begins. The first choice, and usually the most popular and trusted "remedy," is vitamin C. But to limit its role solely to helping combat these ailments would be a gross oversimplification, as vitamin C is a true "multitasking powerhouse" that plays a part in many metabolic processes in addition to playing an important role in strengthening the immune system.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin like the B vitamins and folic acid. This means it can only be stored in the body in limited quantities and must be ingested daily through the diet, so a continuous supply is necessary, since the human body is unable to synthesize it.

Vitamin C is found in large quantities primarily in fresh vegetables and citrus fruits. Among the foods richest in vitamin C are: kiwis, which provide 93 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams; papaya (which provides 60 milligrams); oranges (with 59 milligrams!); strawberries (58 milligrams); lemons (53 milligrams); and pineapple (47.8 milligrams), just to name a few well-known sources.
Unfortunately, however, in modern times we often have to consider whether or not to supplement with vitamin C, especially during certain periods or situations of increased need. It is important to note that today we must acknowledge that our diet is lacking in genuine fresh fruits and vegetables: the food supply chain is long, and often the foods that reach our tables appear fresh but have actually been preserved for days using special treatments. It is important to know that vitamin C is lost to a considerable extent over the time that elapses between harvest and consumption, and its storage greatly reduces its content; in fact, the fresher and less cooked the food is, the greater the amount of vitamin it contains. It is an extremely unstable vitamin, and since it is highly water-soluble, it rapidly oxidizes in an aqueous solution in the presence of metals, alkalis, light, and oxygen; similarly, cooking in water drastically alters its presence in food. In addition to storage, the chemical treatments that various foods undergo before reaching our tables have a negative impact, depleting the content of valuable micronutrients; consequently, even much of the fruit and vegetables that reach our tables contain minimal amounts of vitamin C, or none at all. It is therefore undeniable that our diet often fails to meet daily requirements, especially during certain periods. In addition to a diet low in fruits and vegetables, various factors—primarily related to lifestyle—contribute to deficiency: smoking, pollution, stress, cold weather, imbalances in minerals such as copper and iron, as well as certain therapies that can lead the body to lack sufficient vitamin C.
The common perception that it is such an important vitamin is well-deserved; this vitamin is essential and performs numerous vital functions in the body. It is believed to have been first studied in 1747 when researchers discovered that vitamin C helps protect malnourished sailors from scurvy (a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency), and as research continued, its range of applications and medical-scientific validation have continued to expand significantly.

Among vitamins, no other vitamin plays a role in as many functions as vitamin C, and its antioxidant action—that is, its ability to protect the body from free radicals—is particularly important. An excess of free radicals can cause so-called oxidative stress, which is linked to the onset of various diseases and accelerates the aging process.
But the effects of vitamin C are truly manifold: it strengthens phagocyte function, increases antibody production, stimulates interferon synthesis and carnitine biosynthesis, has an anti-cholesterol effect, and—as we have already mentioned—destroy oxygenated free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide radicals. oxygen radicals, participates in cellular respiration processes, and plays a role in fibroblast development. A very important function that is increasingly in the spotlight for various joint issues or in aesthetic medicine, it plays a role in collagen synthesis, a protein necessary for the formation of the connective tissue of the skin, ligaments, and bones. The joint lubricating fluid, known as synovial fluid, becomes more fluid when serum levels of ascorbic acid are high, promoting greater range of motion.
Vitamin C plays a significant role in the healing of wounds and burns because it facilitates the formation of scar tissue. It supports the body during times of stress, as it also plays a role in the production of adrenal hormones, and its role in supporting iron absorption is well known. Its "protective" role extends not only to free radicals but also counteracts the toxic effects of nicotine, benzoates, nitrogenous compounds, cytotoxins, and ionizing radiation.

Under "stressful" conditions, it is used up even more quickly by the body, and it is necessary to address issues related to its "absorption," which are often little known or given scant consideration by the "ruthless" marketing world of many companies.
The level of ascorbic acid in the blood peaks two or three hours after ingestion, then decreases as it begins to be eliminated through urine and sweat. Most vitamin C is eliminated from the body within a few hours, which is why it should be taken several times a day. But be careful: increased elimination of vitamin C through urine due to higher intake does not mean that the body’s tissues are saturated. The fact is that the human body needs it, and increasingly so as we age.

When taken orally, most of the vitamin is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, stomach, and upper small intestine. The higher the dose, the lower the percentage absorbed. It seems strange, doesn’t it? With a dose of less than 250 mg, nearly all of the vitamin can be absorbed (around 80%), while with a dose exceeding two grams, only 50% is absorbed. Since a healthy body can absorb only a certain amount over a given period of time, taking high doses of vitamin C all at once—if unnecessary—leads to increased excretion of unmetabolized ascorbic acid (N.B. In therapeutic treatments, intravenous injections of a few grams of ascorbic acid are much more effective than oral intake of the same amount, but that is a separate discussion). Therefore, it is virtually pointless to “overdo” it with oral megadoses of vitamin C in a single intake, as this would only serve to “enrich” the vitamin C content of urine or cause potential overdose issues. Malabsorption due to vitamin C overdose can lead to gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, or even heartburn or acid reflux. At the renal level, especially in individuals who are more predisposed, an excess of plasma ascorbic acid can also lead to the formation of kidney stones, due to increased production of oxalic acid (during the catabolism of vitamin C) and consequently oxalates.

To address these potential reasons for poor results from vitamin C supplementation, the new Vitamin C Retard, which we have added to the Yamamoto® Research catalog, offers a convenient and effective solution. Thanks to its “retard” tablet formulation, it enhances the intestinal absorption of vitamin C, allowing for a gradual release of the contents and a longer-lasting bioavailability of this valuable vitamin—known for its various defensive, protective, "anti-aging," and more, thereby preventing issues with malabsorption of the active ingredient or excessively high levels of ascorbic acid in the blood, thus avoiding the risk of excreting excessive amounts of vitamin C in the urine.