Although ascorbic acid is not proven to be harmful since it is widely sold around the world but I have now stopped consuming it. I had replaced it with those non-ascorbic acid vitamin C like Pure Radiance C 90 Vegetable Capsules.
What is ascorbic acid?
Ascorbic acid is actually a synthetic form of vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is frequently marketed as natural vitamin C. Truly natural forms of vitamin C and synthetic ascorbic acid seem to be used interchangeably.
Ascorbic Acid is Usually produced from Genetically Modified Corn.
L-ascorbic acid and D-ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for vitamin C and gets that name from the disease it treats – scurvy (a signifies no, and scorbutus is the latin word for scurvy). Many animals can produce their own vitamin C and so do not need to get it from food, but humans require it as part of our nutrition. It primarily comes in two forms – L-ascorbic acid and D-ascorbic acid. The L variety, which can come in both natural (found in fruits and vegetables, and also whole food vitamins) and synthetic forms (found in most other supplements), is synonymous with vitamin C and carries all its benefits, while the D carries identical antioxidant properties but not the vitamin C content of L and is not used in any form of vitamin supplement.
What is calcium ascorbate?
Calcium ascorbate is another form of vitamin C sometimes found in supplements or as an ingredient in processed foods.
Calcium ascorbate, on the other hand, is a combination of calcium and ascorbic acid, so it provides about 890 to 910 milligrams of vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid per 1,000 milligram supplement, with the remaining 90 to 110 milligrams coming from calcium.
Reducing Side Effects
If regular ascorbic acid supplements cause you to experience side effects, such as diarrhoea, upset stomach or heartburn, calcium ascorbate may be a better option because the calcium helps buffer the acid. There isn't, however, strong evidence one way or the other that this reduces side effects.
Word of Cautious
Don't consume more than the tolerable upper intake level of 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day unless advised to do so by your doctor. This could cause adverse effects, including stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhoea and a reduction in the absorption of copper and vitamin B-12. If you have hemochromatosis, it could also make your condition worse because vitamin C increases iron absorption.
High intakes of vitamin C may increase blood sugar levels and heart disease risk for diabetics, and vitamin C may also interact with NSAIDs, antacids, blood thinners, the antibiotic tetracycline, chemotherapy medications and protease inhibitors.
Summary
Being a neutral salt, its gentleness is natural and with no need for gas-releasing harsh buffers usually used in "buffered" vitamin c formulas.
Thus calcium ascorbate has numerous advantages as a source of vitamin C and calcium. It is gentle to the stomach and helps replace any calcium that vitamin c might remove from their system.
