I think every one agrees on this point:
It’s no fun being sick.
The good thing is that by eating foods high in vitamin C or by taking supplements, you can boost your immune system and help fight off illness.
But vitamin C actually plays a much bigger role in your health than just strengthening your immune system.
And in this article we’re going to discuss its health benefits and the best vitamin C supplements on the market.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, which means it’s not produced in the body and must be obtained through the diet.
It has several benefits that can help improve your health.
Boosts Immunity
Vitamin C improves your body’s immunity by promoting white blood cell growth and strengthening white blood cells. (1)
Vitamin C is an Antioxidant
Antioxidants strengthen the body’s immune system and fight against free radical molecules, which are at the root of a large number of diseases and illnesses.
May Lower Blood Pressure
The results from some studies indicate that vitamin C may lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. (2) (3)
Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
Some studies have found evidence indicating that vitamin C lowers heart disease risk factors: high blood cholesterol/triglycerides and high blood pressure. (4)
Improves Iron Absorption
Vitamin C prevents iron deficiencies by improving its absorption. Iron is important because it helps cells
Reduces Uric Acid
Multiple studies have shown that vitamin C helps to lower uric acid levels, which is what causes gout, a painful type of arthritis. (5) (6) (7)
1) Best Vitamin C Supplement Overall: Viva Naturals Premium Non-GMO Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids & Rose Hips
Our choice for the overall best vitamin C supplement is Viva Naturals Premium Non-GMO Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids & Rose Hips.
Each serving (one
The patented form of vitamin C in this supplement, called Quali®-C, comes from a proprietary blend consisting of L-ascorbic acid, citrus
Vitamin C supplements like this have more health benefits than you might think: in addition to boosting the immune system, it may also support collagen production (which keeps your skin healthy) and fight free radicals (molecules that cause damage to cells).
A bottle of this product contains 250 vegetarian capsules and does not contain and artificial colors/preservatives, salt, soy, dairy, or GMOs.
Pros:
- Contains a potent dose of vitamin C
- Boosts the immune system
- May improve collagen production
- Non-GMO
- Free of artificial colors/preservatives, salt, soy, and dairy
- Vegetarian capsules
Cons:
- Large size capsules may be difficult to swallow for some
- Contains magnesium stearate (generally recognized as safe, but can have a laxative effect)
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- ✔️ Essential Immune Support Supplement* – Protect yourself all season long with our specially formulated vitamin C capsules.* Complementing fruit extracts like citrus bioflavonoids and rose hips provide sources of vitamin C and help provide daily immunity support.*
- ✔️ Features Non-GMO Vitamin C – Our vitamin C is made with Non-GMO Quali-C from Scotland, one of the world’s leading providers of vitamin C. Each batch is third-party tested for quality, providing 1000 mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids and rose hips per serving.
- ✔️ Helps Fight Free Radicals* – Our vitamin C supplement is the trifecta for daily antioxidant action.* Our blend of vitamin C from ascorbic acid, citrus bioflavonoids and rose hips, help protect cells against free radicals to keep cells thriving.*
- ✔️ Supports Collagen for Hair, Skin, Nails & Joints* – Often going under the radar, ascorbic acid vitamin C is an essential nutrient for collagen synthesis.* Collagen is the holy grail of beauty and joint support, and adding a high potency vitamin C to your wellness routine can help your body make more of it.*
- ✔️ Quality You Can Trust – Our vitamin C capsules are Non-GMO and vegetarian friendly, making them the perfect addition to your wellness routine. Plus, they’re manufactured without gluten or dairy, so you can feel confident that you’re getting the most out of your vitamin C.
2) Best Natural Vitamin C Supplement: Nature’s Way Vitamin C
If you’re looking for an all-natural vitamin C supplement, a good choice is Nature’s Way Vitamin C 1000 mg with Bioflavonoids.
This supplement contains 1 gram (1,000mg) of vitamin C in ascorbic acid form, which is 1,667% of the daily value.
It also contains 50mg of a bioflavonoid complex consisting of orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and tangerine. Bioflavonoids are strong antioxidants that protect the body from free radical damage.
This is a good combination for immune health, antioxidant protection, and collagen production.
This product comes in either 100 or 250 pill sizes. They’re vegetarian capsules.
Pros:
- Contains a potent 1,000mg of vitamin C
- The bioflavonoid complex is an antioxidant and fights against free radical damage
- Supports immune health and collagen production
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian capsules
- Free of “sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, soy, dairy products, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives”
Cons:
- Large size makes them difficult to swallow
- Ascorbic acid is not the highest quality form of vitamin C
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- ANTIOXIDANT: Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids provides powerful antioxidant protection, supports collagen and immune health*.
- SUPERIOR QUALITY STANDARDS: Our Vitamin C 1000 mg with Bioflavonoids is carefully tested and produced to superior quality standards.
- GLUTEN-FREE AND VEGETARIAN: Our Vitamin C 1000 mg with Bioflavonoids is gluten free and vegetarian, made with plant-derived capsules. It also contains no sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, soy, dairy products, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
- BOTTLED AND TESTED IN THE USA
- SERVING RECOMMENDATION: Take 1 capsule as needed, preferably with food. If pregnant, nursing, or taking any medication, consult a healthcare professional before use. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
3) Best Daily Vitamin C Supplement: Vitafusion Power C Gummy Vitamins
If you’re looking for a vitamin C supplement that you can take every day, our recommendation is Vitafusion Power C Gummy Vitamins.
We like this supplement as something you can take on a daily basis because it doesn’t contain a lot more than you need: it has 240mg of vitamin C (as ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate), which is 267% of the daily value.
Two gummies make up a serving. And at 267%, that’s obviously more than necessary if you’re taking it every day. You can actually just take one per day, as that’s 133% of the daily value.
Unfortunately, this supplement does contain sugar, as do the majority of gummy supplements. It also contains glucose syrup, gelatin (which means it’s not suitable for vegans), citric acid, color (annatto extract), fumaric acid, lactic acid, natural flavor, and sodium citrate.
Pros:
- Gummy form makes them easy to consume
- Great taste
- Isn’t overly potent
- Supports immune health
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
Cons:
- Contains sugar (we recommend brushing your teeth after taking them so that it doesn’t stick to your teeth and cause cavities)
- Not suitable for vegans
- Have a tough texture
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- Immune health support: Provides 282mg of vitamin C in every 3 gummy serving – as much vitamin C as 10 tangerines*
- Delicious and Nutritious: Vitamin fused with delicious natural orange flavors for a taste you'll love
- The NO’s: No Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners, No Synthetic (FD&C) Dyes, No High Fructose Corn Syrup, No Gluten or Dairy
- Award Winning Taste: Recipient of the 2021 ChefsBest Best Taste Award. The ChefsBest Best Taste Award is awarded to brands that surpass quality standards established by independent professional chefs
- America’s #1 gummy vitamin brand: We deliver the best vitamin experience so you look forward to your daily dose
4) Best Vitamin C Powder Supplement: Emergen-C
You’ve probably heard of Emergen-C by now.
It comes in small packets of powder that you stir into water (can be hot or cold).
The biggest feature of Emergen-C is the 1,000mg potent dose of vitamin C. Because of its immune-boosting high vitamin C content, many people take it if they feel they’re catching a cold or some other type of illness.
It also has a robust mix of other vitamins and minerals, which can get depleted when you’re sick.
This product is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Pros:
- Contains a large dose of vitamin C, good for battling illnesses
- Boosts immune system
- Contains antioxidants and electrolytes
- Many like the fizzy consistency
- Pleasant taste
- Affordable
Cons:
- Contains too much vitamin C and some other vitamins/minerals for everyday use
- Contains quite a bit of sugar
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- 60 count/2 month supply of Super Orange-flavored Emergen-C 1000mg Vitamin C Powder for Daily Immune Support (1), Caffeine Free Dietary Supplements with Zinc and Manganese, B Vitamins and Electrolytes
- B vitamins for energy support and electrolytes to help replace those lost through perspiration (1)
- Dietary supplements that support immune health with more vitamin C per serving than 10 oranges (2)
- Dietary supplement that supports immune health (1) with antioxidants such as vitamin C, zinc and manganese, as well as having B vitamins and electrolytes
- 1,000 mg vitamin C packets with delicious and refreshing natural orange flavor and natural sweeteners
5) Best Vitamin C Supplement for Skin: Garden of Life Vitamin C with Amla – mykind Organic C Vitamin Whole Food Supplement for Skin Health
For a vitamin C supplement formulated specifically with benefiting skin health in mind, our pick is Garden of Life Vitamin C with Amla –
It’s OK to take this supplement on a regular basis because the vitamin C dose is 60mg, which is 100% of the daily value.
With this supplement, in addition to the collagen synthesis and antioxidant properties from vitamin C that benefit the skin, you also get an organic food blend that’s formulated to promote skin health. You get immune-enhancing benefits from this supplement as well.
Amla berry was included to improve vitamin C absorption.
This product comes in the form of a spray that you spray in your mouth 5 times for a serving. It comes in two flavors: orange-tangerine and cherry-tangerine. We tested both and thought both have a pleasant taste.
There are no added “sugars, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives” and the product is all organic.
Pros:
- Contains 100% of the daily value of vitamin C
- Boosts immune system
- Formulated to improve skin health and appearance
- Has amla berry, which improves vitamin C absorption
- Comes in a spray; easier to take than pills
- No sugar, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives
- All organic
Cons:
- Comes in a plastic bottle (this product used to come in a glass bottle which is cleaner, safer)
- There are only 27 servings per container
- Not very concentrated (takes 5 sprays for a serving)
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- LIQUID VITAMIN C FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPORT: Support the immune system and promote tissue and skin health with 60mg of Organic whole food vitamin C—an antioxidant known to help boost collagen production—in a yummy liquid spray
- ORGANIC VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENT WITH AMLA BERRIES: Our real food vitamin C liquid is made from real foods including Organic Emblic—Amla Berry, one of the richest food sources of vitamin C—plus other berries, tart cherry, beet and other vegetables & herbs
- ADULTS & KIDS VITAMIN C WITH BIOFLAVONOIDS: With naturally occurring bioflavonoids & supporting co-nutrients from amla berry for vitamin C absorption, our vitamin C liquid spray comes in delicious Orange Tangerine (No Stevia) & Cherry Tangerine (Stevia)
- LIQUID VITAMIN C FOR KIDS AND ADULTS TO ENJOY: Unlike vitamin C gummies with lots of added sugars and syrups, our Organic liquid vitamin C sprays deliver a burst of this essential nutrient with no sugar or added sugars—just whole food goodness (sweet!)
- ORGANIC VITAMIN C THAT'S VEGAN FRIENDLY: Our Vitamin C Spray is a tasty liquid that's real to the root—tested at every step—so you don’t have to settle for less than Third Party Certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten Free, Kosher & Carbon Neutral
Conclusion
Even though vitamin C is a very important nutrient, it is possible to take too much.
That’s why it’s important to get what vitamin C you can from your diet and only take as much as you need in supplement form.
That means it’s best to reserve these higher-potency supplements just for when you’re sick. If you’re not getting enough vitamin C through your regular diet, you can consider taking a lower potency vitamin C supplement on a more regular basis.
Our top pick:
- ✔️ Essential Immune Support Supplement* – Protect yourself all season long with our specially formulated vitamin C capsules.* Complementing fruit extracts like citrus bioflavonoids and rose hips provide sources of vitamin C and help provide daily immunity support.*
- ✔️ Features Non-GMO Vitamin C – Our vitamin C is made with Non-GMO Quali-C from Scotland, one of the world’s leading providers of vitamin C. Each batch is third-party tested for quality, providing 1000 mg of vitamin C with bioflavonoids and rose hips per serving.
- ✔️ Helps Fight Free Radicals* – Our vitamin C supplement is the trifecta for daily antioxidant action.* Our blend of vitamin C from ascorbic acid, citrus bioflavonoids and rose hips, help protect cells against free radicals to keep cells thriving.*
- ✔️ Supports Collagen for Hair, Skin, Nails & Joints* – Often going under the radar, ascorbic acid vitamin C is an essential nutrient for collagen synthesis.* Collagen is the holy grail of beauty and joint support, and adding a high potency vitamin C to your wellness routine can help your body make more of it.*
- ✔️ Quality You Can Trust – Our vitamin C capsules are Non-GMO and vegetarian friendly, making them the perfect addition to your wellness routine. Plus, they’re manufactured without gluten or dairy, so you can feel confident that you’re getting the most out of your vitamin C.
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12564647
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22492364
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15585762
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19273781
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18464304
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21671418