Ascorbic acid (vitamin c) and its effect on 18 minerals bioavailability in human nutrition

This review aimed to assess the relationship between ascorbic acid and number of minerals in the human body. Although there is a lack of available data concerned about the interaction between ascorbic acid and minerals but by reviewing the available literature, we concluded that nutrients bioavailability varies from food item to another and it was notable that it affects the incidence of mineral deficiency. Assessing the effect of ascorbic acid on minerals bioavailability can overcome some nutritional problems related to mineral deficiency consequences. Ascorbic acid intake has a synergistic effect on iron calcium, zinc, magnesium, and cobalt absorption, while an antagonistic effect was seen in copper, nickel and manganese, cadmium and mercury. Both synergistic and antagonistic effects were seen in selenium upon the addition of ascorbic acid and no significant effect was seen on phosphorus. Finally, up to our knowledge there is no available data about the interaction between potassium, molybdenum, vanadium, silicon, sulfur and iodine with ascorbic acid. Therefore, it is important to review this topic and update it.