While the science exhibits that older adults have decrease vitamin C ranges, the precise reason behind this unlucky phenomenon will not be utterly clear.
One principle is that our want for antioxidant exercise will increase with age on account of greater ranges of oxidative stress. Vitamin C is a dynamic and keen scavenger of free radicals that will increase antioxidant exercise within the physique not solely by combating reactive oxidative species (ROS) by itself, however by regenerating different antioxidant powerhouses (e.g., glutathione and vitamin E) as properly.* Like vitamin C, our physique shops of “master antioxidant” glutathione additionally lower with age. This lower in antioxidant exercise ranges means there’s a higher want for antioxidants to fight ROS.
While it’s necessary for individuals of all ages to be cognizant of vitamin C ranges, growing vitamin C consumption by means of eating regimen and high quality supplementation can each restore glutathione and preserve wholesome total antioxidant ranges, which is particularly useful for older adults.* And these vitamin C-optimizing practices ought to ideally be a day by day consideration (and endeavor).
Another principle is that vitamin C absorption is much less environment friendly in our later years (though, it’s not all the time environment friendly for youthful individuals both). Taking a bioavailable vitamin C complement recognized to affect mobile vitamin C actions can make sure you’re each absorbing, retaining, and totally leveraging the important vitamin so it could actually help mind and whole-body longevity (amongst different unimaginable well being advantages).*