Most of us think about vitamin C as the “immune vitamin.” Vitamin C certainly plays a vital role in immune function and several other essential body functions. New research demonstrates that vitamin C improves cognitive function.
The study involved 214 healthy young adults who had inadequate vitamin C blood levels. Participants were then given vitamin C at a dose of 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks or a placebo. Compared to placebo, the vitamin C group had significantly improved work attention and work motivation, which improved performance on cognitive tasks that required sustained attention.
• Red pepper
• Orange juice/oranges
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi
• Green Pepper
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
While vitamin C deficiency is not common in America, suboptimal levels can impact one’s health. Some reasons why one may be low in vitamin C:
• Alcohol consumption
• A diet that has inadequate fruits and vegetables or restricted diets
• Smokers
• Type 1 diabetes
• Inflammatory bowel disease
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
Maxfield L, Crane J. Vitamin C Deficiency. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493187/. Published 2022. Accessed March 8, 2022.
Sim, M., Hong, S., Jung, S. et al. Vitamin C supplementation promotes mental vitality in healthy young adults: results from a cross-sectional analysis and a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr 61, 447–459 (2022).
