Vitamin C is an essential building block for our cells and our selves, so why don’t our organs produce it? It is theorized that mutations in the evolution process caused humans to lose their ability to create ascorbic acid. While there is no clear explanation why humans no longer have the ability to create vitamin C, at some point in our evolution the ability ceased to be. If humans were able to maintain the necessary levels of vitamin C without depending on nutritional sources, longer lives and fewer diseases would likely result.

Most animals produce their own ascorbic acid. Exceptions include certain primates, fish, birds and bats, and especially the guinea pig. Other mammals produce up to 20,000 milligrams of vitamin C in their livers daily, in proportion with their body weight. However, different animals use different organs for the purpose; some birds and reptiles employ their kidneys for the purpose.

For the animals that have this natural ability, ascorbic acid is a hormone, not a dietary-acquired vitamin. Humans, on the other hand, depend solely on their dietary intake to maintain the imperative levels of this nutrient. Studies show that only the few animals that do not have this ability suffer from several major diseases of the cardiovascular and immune systems.

The average mammal with the ability to manufacture its own vitamin C has the potential, and likelihood, of living between eight and ten times the age of their physical maturity. Without this ability mammals such as humans barely make it to triple or quadruple this time period. It has been theorized that humans, before the genetic mutation took place, may have actually lived several hundred years.

Vitamin C is required by the body to properly synthesize collagen. Collagen is the amalgam that creates nearly a quarter of our protein mass. What this means in terms of human health is essentially that collagen is the glue that holds our organic beings together, and vitamin C is the secret ingredient that completes the recipe.

The first step in collagen production belongs to amino acids proline and glycine. The combination of these two amino acids alone is precollagen; not quite collagen yet. The very crucial role of vitamin C is to interact with the amino acids and complete the synthesis of collagen. Our bones, teeth, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and our skin, depend on collagen for their strength and elasticity.

The blood vessels, eyes, and heart all contain large amounts of collagen as well. The break down of collagen triggers the aging process; visible wrinkles, the breakdown of immunity and various degenerative ailments appear. Vitamin C is vital at cellular level, as it provides support and plays a function in cellular repair and replication. Without it, our cells cannot repair the damage done by attacks.

A shorter human life span and certain degenerative diseases are attributed to our inability to produce our own supply of vitamin C. But what is worse is the result of becoming deficient in the imperative nutrient.

Scurvy, a disease resulting from an insufficient vitamin C, provides the etymological roots for the scientific name of vitamin C: ascorbic acid. The Latin name for scurvy is scorbutus, and ascorbic means “without scurvy.” This disease was common at one time among sailors, pirates and soldiers, all who were similarly without fruits and vegetables for long periods of time. Characterized by skin spots, scorbutic gums and bleeding, scurvy can further result in paralysis and open wounds.

In order for cells to regenerate and the body to maintain immunity to cell degradation, dependable and significant sources of vitamin C need to be ingested. Dependence on our dietary intake has proven to be insufficient. One would have to eat four or five oranges a day to maintain the bare minimum.

While there isn’t any feasible way to inspire the human body to once again produce vitamin C, a wide variety of vitamin C supplements are available in different forms. The opinions vary on exactly how much an individual should take per day, but maintaining a daily intake of 200 to 1000 milligrams will benefit most healthy people.