VITAMIN C, AMLA EXTRACT 1000mg & ZINC 60 Tablets

Medicinal plants have been used for centuries to promote a disease-free healthy life. Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (also known as Indian gooseberry or amla) is an important medicinal plant used in traditional health care systems like Ayurveda and Unani. The plant is highly nutritious and contains various compounds like phenolic compounds, tannins, and vitamins, making it an important source of dietary supplements. Several parts of the plant have been used to treat various ailments, including diarrhea, jaundice, and inflammation. Additionally, the plant exhibits antidiabetic, hypolipidemic (4), antibacterial, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties (1). Numerous phytochemicals have been isolated from the plant, and its ethnomedical and pharmacological potentials have been extensively studied (2). Further research is required to identify and evaluate the chemical constituents for nutritional and therapeutic potential. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, ingestion of lingonberry and amla fruit extract (LAE) showed significant improvements in skin elasticity, thickness, stratum corneum water content, and degree of wrinkles, indicating that LAE may be considered a candidate anti-aging agent for preventing skin weakening (3).

1. Krishnaveni, Mani, and Sankaran Mirunalini. “Therapeutic Potential of Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla): The Ayurvedic Wonder.” Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology 21, no. 1 (2010): 93–105. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp.2010.21.1.93.

2. Variya, Bhavesh C., Anita K. Bakrania, and Snehal S. Patel. “Emblica Officinalis (Amla): A Review for Its Phytochemistry, Ethnomedicinal Uses and Medicinal Potentials with Respect to Molecular Mechanisms.” Pharmacological Research 111 (September 2016): 180–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2016.06.013.

3. Uchiyama, Taro, Makoto Tsunenaga, Miho Miyanaga, Osamu Ueda, and Masashi Ogo. “Oral Intake of Lingonberry and Amla Fruit Extract Improves Skin Conditions in Healthy Female Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry 66, no. 5 (September 2019): 870–79. https://doi.org/10.1002/bab.1800.

4. Upadya, Haridas, S. Prabhu, Aravinda Prasad, Deepa Subramanian, Swati Gupta, and Ajay Goel. “A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Emblica Officinalis Extract in Patients with Dyslipidemia.” BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 19, no. 1 (January 22, 2019): 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2430-y.

A population-based cross sectional survey in two areas of north and south India were investigated for the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in people aged more than 60. The age, sex and season standardized prevalence of vitamin C deficiency was 73.9% in 2668 people in north India and 45.7% in 2970 from south India (1). This indicated the poor nutrition and lower dietary intakes of vitamin C in communities of Indian population. A cross-sectional study on adults from Western India was done to examine interrelationships between (a) dietary habits, (b) socioeconomic and (c) environmental factors, and their impact on plasma ascorbic acid (2-3). Subnormal status of vitamin C was observed and the study emphasizes the need to increase consumption of fruit, Green leafy vegetables and milk products, and also better education and environment.

References

1. Ravindran, R.D., Vashist, P., Gupta, S.K., Young, I.S., Maraini, G., Camparini, M., Jayanthi, R., John, N., Fitzpatrick, K.E., Chakravarthy, U., Ravilla, T.D., Fletcher, A.E., 2011. Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin C deficiency in north and south India: a two centre population based study in people aged 60 years and over. PLoS ONE 6, e28588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0028588

2. Chiplonkar, S.A., Agte, V.V., Mengale, S.S., Tarwadi, K.V., 2002. Are lifestyle factors good predictors of retinol and vitamin C deficiency in apparently healthy adults? Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 96–104. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601291 3. Chatterjee, I.B., 2009. The history of vitamin C research in India. J. Biosci. 34, 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-009-0021-7 4. Vitamin C Deficiency | National Health Portal of India. Available from: http://www.nutrition-atlas.nin.res.in/nutritionatlas/vitc.php

Scientific evidence suggests that vitamin C supplementation in adults and children with a common cold can significantly reduce its duration and severity and relieve cold symptoms (1-2). Furthermore, supplementation with vitamin C appears to be able to both prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Three controlled trials found that vitamin C prevented pneumonia (3). Two controlled trials found a treatment benefit of vitamin C for pneumonia patients.

References

1. Gombart, A.F., Pierre, A., Maggini, S., 2020. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System–Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010236

2. Carr, A.C., Maggini, S., 2017. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211

3. Ran, L., Zhao, W., Wang, J., Wang, H., Zhao, Y., Tseng, Y., Bu, H., 2018. Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials. Biomed Res Int 2018, 1837634. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/1837634

4. Hemilä, H., 2017. Vitamin C and Infections. Nutrients 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9040339