Vitamin C concentration in juices
Introduction to the literature search
Vitamin C is a vital vitamin which has numerous bodily functions. This includes functions such as: helping
protect cells, cell maintenance and to maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage NHS
(2020). Lists the importance of Vitamin C. Most adults need to have some sort of vitamin C in their diet
(at least 40ml of Vitamin C in some way). This makes Vitamin C a necessity for humans as without
Vitamin C intake it can lead to a complication called scurvy. Scurvy results in numerous symptoms
including fatigue, weakness, irritability, sadness at times, severe joint or leg pain, swollen bleeding gums
(sometimes teeth can fall out), development of red or blue spots on the skin usually on the shins and
skin that bruises easily. Vitamin C, NHS (2020) lists the types of symptoms acquired as a result of scurvy.
Scurvy is an easily treatable condition which involves including some form of vitamin C to your diet. In
some cases, the person treating you may recommend vitamin C supplementation to treat the scurvy - .
However, scurvy is a rare condition as vitamin C is present in people’s diet without them knowing, often
found in fruit and vegetables, thus alluding to the rarity of scurvy. Too little vitamin C can cause
problems as well as too much vitamin C. Some people may be alarmed of what too little Vitamin C can
do (scurvy) hence they begin to take large amounts of Vitamin C, which have deleterious effects.
Sebastian and Radomski (1974) found that the people who consumed vitamin C had increased
resistance and added protection against colds compared to those who did not consume vitamin C. This
provides added support for the benefits of vitamin C consumption. The human body only requires a
certain amount of vitamin C, 40ml to carry out the required functions and so when your body has too
much Vitamin C it tries to find a way to make it useful, for example; by storing it. But because we cannot
store large amounts of Vitamin C our body has to get rid of the Vitamin C. Symptoms of too much intake
of Vitamin C are; stomach pain, diarrhoea, and flatulence. The NHS (2020) lists the main symptoms of
intake of too much Vitamin C.
Experimental findings based on previous research in this field
As we progress in this literature review, we will be looking at two experiments that investigate the
Vitamin c concentration in different juices. This review shall compare the concentration of vitamin C in
fresh orange juice and pineapple juice. The review shall also discuss whether the different juices contain
the vitamin C concentration as recommended by government guidelines. Before we look at the two
experiments, we can make a hypothesis on what we think will happen in the experiments and the
results it gives us. I hypothesise that the juice extracted from the orange will have a higher vitamin C
concentration compared to the orange juice that is concentrated.
The first experiment we are going to be looking at the vitamin C concentrations between fresh orange
juice and pineapple juice. In the first experiment (figure one) there is a clear difference in the testing
Introduction to the literature search
Vitamin C is a vital vitamin which has numerous bodily functions. This includes functions such as: helping
protect cells, cell maintenance and to maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage NHS
(2020). Lists the importance of Vitamin C. Most adults need to have some sort of vitamin C in their diet
(at least 40ml of Vitamin C in some way). This makes Vitamin C a necessity for humans as without
Vitamin C intake it can lead to a complication called scurvy. Scurvy results in numerous symptoms
including fatigue, weakness, irritability, sadness at times, severe joint or leg pain, swollen bleeding gums
(sometimes teeth can fall out), development of red or blue spots on the skin usually on the shins and
skin that bruises easily. Vitamin C, NHS (2020) lists the types of symptoms acquired as a result of scurvy.
Scurvy is an easily treatable condition which involves including some form of vitamin C to your diet. In
some cases, the person treating you may recommend vitamin C supplementation to treat the scurvy - .
However, scurvy is a rare condition as vitamin C is present in people’s diet without them knowing, often
found in fruit and vegetables, thus alluding to the rarity of scurvy. Too little vitamin C can cause
problems as well as too much vitamin C. Some people may be alarmed of what too little Vitamin C can
do (scurvy) hence they begin to take large amounts of Vitamin C, which have deleterious effects.
Sebastian and Radomski (1974) found that the people who consumed vitamin C had increased
resistance and added protection against colds compared to those who did not consume vitamin C. This
provides added support for the benefits of vitamin C consumption. The human body only requires a
certain amount of vitamin C, 40ml to carry out the required functions and so when your body has too
much Vitamin C it tries to find a way to make it useful, for example; by storing it. But because we cannot
store large amounts of Vitamin C our body has to get rid of the Vitamin C. Symptoms of too much intake
of Vitamin C are; stomach pain, diarrhoea, and flatulence. The NHS (2020) lists the main symptoms of
intake of too much Vitamin C.
Experimental findings based on previous research in this field
As we progress in this literature review, we will be looking at two experiments that investigate the
Vitamin c concentration in different juices. This review shall compare the concentration of vitamin C in
fresh orange juice and pineapple juice. The review shall also discuss whether the different juices contain
the vitamin C concentration as recommended by government guidelines. Before we look at the two
experiments, we can make a hypothesis on what we think will happen in the experiments and the
results it gives us. I hypothesise that the juice extracted from the orange will have a higher vitamin C
concentration compared to the orange juice that is concentrated.
The first experiment we are going to be looking at the vitamin C concentrations between fresh orange
juice and pineapple juice. In the first experiment (figure one) there is a clear difference in the testing
