The Manufacturing of Vitamin C: How It’s Done

How do we manufacture vitamin C?
The ultimate raw material for the production of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is corn or wheat. This is converted via starch to glucose by specialist companies, and then to sorbitol. We produce the pure final products from sorbitol in a series of biotechnical, chemical processing and purification steps.
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Ascorbic acid, generally referred to as vitamin C, is a vital component required by humans to sustain good health. Humans cannot naturally make vitamin C like the majority of animals can, therefore we must get it through our diet or supplementation. While many foods, like citrus fruits, peppers, and broccoli, contain vitamin C, it is also feasible to create vitamin C in a lab setting.

Glucose is used as a beginning material in the production of vitamin C. Simple sugars like glucose can be found in a wide variety of meals, including grains, fruits, and vegetables. In a laboratory, sorbitol is produced by first converting glucose, and sorbose is then produced by further processing sorbitol. The main raw material used to produce vitamin C is sorbose.

The sorbose is then put through a series of chemical processes to create ascorbic acid. In the first stage, sorbose is combined with an oxygen molecule to produce 2-ketogluconic acid. Following reduction to L-gulonic acid from 2-ketogluconic acid, L-gulonolactone is created. Finally, ascorbic acid is produced by hydrolyzing the L-gulonolactone.

Although vitamin C made in a lab and vitamin C found in food are chemically equivalent, some people prefer to obtain their nutrients from natural sources. For instance, vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that may be found in a variety of nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. Try including foods like almonds, sunflower seeds, and avocado in your meals to increase your intake of vitamin E.

On the other hand, vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin, is essential for healthy blood clotting and bones. The two main types of vitamin K are K1 and K2, which are both present in fermented foods like cheese and natto as well as leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. It is advisable to eat a variety of foods that contain both kinds of vitamin K because they are both vital for overall health.

It’s crucial to understand that creating your own vitamins is not an easy process if you’re interested in doing so. Making your own supplements might be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing as most vitamins require specific tools and knowledge to produce. Instead, concentrate on eating a balanced diet that consists of a range of nutritious foods to receive all the nutrients you need.

In conclusion, glucose can be used as a beginning material to produce vitamin C, which is an important nutrient. Although vitamin C generated in a lab is chemically identical to vitamin C found in food, many individuals prefer to obtain their nutrients from natural sources such leafy greens, fermented foods, nuts, and seeds that are high in vitamin E or nuts and seeds that are high in vitamin K. Making your own vitamins is something you should think about carefully and after doing your study.