VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and is very important for animal nutrition

Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that vitamin C enhances different aspects of cellular and noncellular immunity. Ascorbic acid has been found to be involved in a number of biochemical processes. Function of vitamin C is related to its reversible oxidation and reduction characteristics.  The most clearly established functional role for vitamin C involves collagen biosynthesis. It plays an important role in reactions involving electron transfer in the cell and metabolic oxidation of amino acids.  Ascorbic acid has a role in metal ion metabolism due to its reducing and chelating properties. Poultry are able to synthesize vitamin C and thus it is assumed they do not require dietary sources of the vitamin. Although vitamin C can be synthesized by poultry and ruminants, the synthesis is reduced or the requirements for vitamin C are increased during times of stress in poultry.