What is the difference between acerola and synthetic vitamin C?Updated 4 months ago

Conventional vitamin C in dietary supplements, known as ascorbic acid, is usually of synthetic origin. It is an isolated vitamin molecule that is absorbed by the body but lacks the synergistic action of other substances naturally present in fruits or vegetables.

Acerola, on the other hand, contains vitamin C in its natural form, along with other bioactive compounds such as:

• bioflavonoids

• polyphenols

• additional vitamins (provitamin A, certain B vitamins) and minerals (potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, and iron)

These substances naturally support the absorption, utilization, and antioxidant effects of vitamin C in the body. As a result, natural vitamin C from acerola may have a more comprehensive impact than pure synthetic ascorbic acid. Supplementation with acerola is also less likely to cause stomach irritation, even in sensitive individuals.

We do not consider long-term high-dose supplementation with isolated ascorbic acid to be an ideal strategy and instead recommend focusing on vitamin C intake from food and whole-food supplements such as acerola.