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7 Best Vitamin C Supplements 2023: Top Brand Reviews
Updated on
- Written by Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by
Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
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Care/of Vitamin C
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, Non-gmo
- Includes bioflavonoids
- Good manufacturing practices (GMP)
Life Extension Buffered Vitamin C Powder
- Non-irritating
- Vegetarian, gluten free, non-gmo
- Includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium
Persona Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids
- Access to a nutritionist
- Personalized service
- 60% discount on first month purchase
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most talked-about vitamins. It’s known for its immune system benefits and is most commonly used during cold and flu season.
The phrase often heard is, “My throat hurts, I think I’m getting sick. I should take some vitamin C”. While it plays a role in supporting immunity, it offers several other important health benefits.
The body cannot make Vit C on its own; therefore, it’s an essential nutrient we need to obtain through food or supplements[1].
Vit C helps the body make collagen, neurotransmitters, and protein. Although most people can get adequate Vit C through their diet, some groups are at a higher risk of developing Vit C deficiency.
A few examples of these groups are smokers, picky eaters, those with malabsorption conditions, or other chronic medical conditions that may increase the need for Vit C or affect its absorption. With a malabsorption disease, a chronic condition. Especially in these vulnerable groups, Vit C products can be beneficial.
Best Vitamin C Supplements in (December. 2023)
- Care/of Vitamin C – Editor’s Choice
- Life Extension Buffered Vitamin C Powder – Best In Powder Form
- Persona Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids – Best Value
- Ritual Postnatal – Best For Transparent Ingredients
- Mary Ruth’s Vitamin C Gummies – Best In Chewable Form
- Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Vitamin C – Best Natural Ingredients
- Thorne Vitamin C with Flavonoids – Best For A Variety Of Products
What Is Vitamin C?
Most vitamin C supplements are available as ascorbic acid, which is the form found naturally in foods. Other forms on the market include sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, and other mineral ascorbates.
You can also find Vit C supplements in combination supplements that include bioflavonoids or proprietary blends. Bioflavonoids are a group of plant colors that are a part of fruits and vegetables; they are known to be important when treating someone with a Vit C deficiency[2] and other functions. Proprietary blends are usually a collection of ingredients that can only be found in a specific product or brand; it is sometimes listed as “blend”, “complex” or “proprietary formulation[3]”. Vitamin C supplements can be sold on their own or as part of a multivitamin complex.
Here are the 7 best vitamin C supplements of 2023, based on quality, safety, and effectiveness.
Vitamin C Dosage
Vitamin C supplements are available in varied doses ranging from 25 mg to 500 mg of Vit C. The exact dose may vary and is set as a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Your RDA may vary based on age and gender, with specific recommendations for pregnant and lactating women.
These are the RDAs[4] For Men above 19 years, the recommendation is 90 mg per day, and for females, it is 75 mg per day. For infants between 0-12 months, the recommendation is on the recommended Adequate Intake (AI). For children between 1-3 years old, 15 mg/day; 4-8 years old, 25 mg/day; 9-13 years old, 45 mg/day. Teenagers’ male requirements are 75 mg/day and females 65 mg/day.
Care/of Vitamin C
Vitamin C from Care/Of comes in a personalized supplement program. Formulated for easy Vit C absorption with natural ingredients from acerola cherry extract.
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO
- Includes health-promoting ingredients like citrus bioflavonoids
- Good manufacturing practices (GMP)
- Subscription service only
Care/Of’s vitamin C supplements help support the immune system and are, made easy to digest and absorb. It’s unique in that it’s derived from a natural form of Vit C.
This Vit C is directly extracted from organic acerola fruit extract (Malpighia glabra). Acerola is an excellent source of Vit C, even higher than orange or lemon[5]. The other Vit C supplements are in the form of calcium ascorbate and magnesium ascorbate, providing calcium and magnesium alongside ascorbic acid helps in reducing the acidity of ascorbic acid on its own.
It’s also free from major food allergens and gluten-free.
This supplement is tested to comply with FDA requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and third-party testing.
This product provides 250 mg of vitamin C and 65 mg of citrus bioflavonoids. This Vit C is offered as part of a subscription program that sells bulk supplement vitamin recommendations.
Each personalized packet is recommended to be taken with food or beverages, and the recommended dosage will depend on the personalized recommendations from the health quiz.
There is a 30-day return policy; however, the return process is not entirely straightforward. You do need to contact a team member to start the process for a refund.
Life Extension Buffered Vitamin C Powder
Formulated to provide more than just vitamin C, it includes additional minerals that help buffer the Vit C to help it be gentle to the stomach.
- Non-irritating
- Vegetarian, gluten-free, non-GMO
- Includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium
- The taste is not great
Life Extensions Buffered Vitamin C is in powder vitamin form and in the form of ascorbic acid. The advantage of this supplement is its ease of use and the added minerals needed by the body.
These added ingredients can also help to buffer the irritation that ascorbic acid can cause to the stomach, making this the best powder Vit C supplement. The minerals included are calcium ascorbate, magnesium carbonate, zinc gluconate, and potassium carbonate.
Because this is a high-dose Vit C supplement at 4000 mg, it’s more likely to cause upset stomach or diarrhea[7].
Buffered vitamin C helps with heart health and immune support, provides antioxidants, and protects tissues from oxidative stress. The recommended dosage is one rounded teaspoon into a glass of water. One should wait for the fizz to stop before consuming.
You can purchase this item once or subscribe and save up to 40% for a recurring shipment. The return policy is liberal in that you can return the product within 12 months and get a product replacement or credit to your account.
Persona Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids
Persona’s vitamin C is included in a personalized subscription program that helps identify gaps in your nutrition. It helps with antioxidant properties to offer support and collagen production.
- Access to a nutritionist
- Personalized service
- 60% discount on first-month purchase
- The health assessment may not recommend Vitamin C
Persona’s vitamin C with bioflavonoids has more than five times the daily value of Vit C. At 500 mg of Vit C.
This supplement provides antioxidants and immunity support at this dose and aids in collagen production. This supplement also provides 90 mg of calcium carbonate and 100 mg of a citrus bioflavonoid complex. This citrus complex has Hesperidin, Naringenin, 7-B-Rutinoside, Eriocitrin, and others; these are all flavonoids from a variety of sources with varying benefits[6].
You start the subscription process by taking a health assessment. Based on your answers, you are recommended a set of vitamins. If you wish to add additional products, you can easily add them to your order.
The subscription service is well organized, and you have the option to add or remove any of the supplements suggested.
The recommended dosage is based on your personalized profile. In general, three packs per day of various supplements are recommended to be taken after breakfast, after lunch, and at bedtime.
The return policy is unclear; you would need to call a representative to discuss the need to get a refund.
Ritual Postnatal
For the postpartum and lactating mothers. This multivitamin provides vitamin C as one of its ingredients. Made with a delayed-release capsule design with traceable ingredients.
- Safe for postpartum and lactating
- Traceable ingredients
- Delayed-release capsule design
- A low dose of Vit C
Ritual’s postnatal multivitamin is filled with vitamins and minerals that support the unique nutrient needs of a mother. This multivitamin supplement has a delayed-release capsule design, is vegan, free of major food allergens, gluten-free, traceable ingredients have no artificial colorants, and artificial sweeteners.
The vitamin C in this supplement is sourced from Ireland as ascorbic acid. Ritual uses the branded QualiⓇ-C as a vitamin form of Vit C, which is known for its low carbon footprint.
As a whole, this multivitamin supports healthy immune function and provides antioxidant support. You can obtain 25 mg of Vit C from this supplement, a lower dose but adequate to help support a new mother.
The recommended dosage is two capsules per day. You can purchase the supplement as a subscription and cancel at any time. The return policy is a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked and no returns necessary.
Mary Ruth’s Vitamin C Gummies
A chewable vitamin C supplement made with organic ingredients, with three flavors in one bottle. Suitable for children and made with the best ingredients.
- Kid-friendly
- Free of major allergens
- Non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan
- Not suitable for pectin intolerance
Mary Ruth’s Vitamin C gummies are an excellent option for both adults and children looking for chewable Vit C options. It benefits overall health, promotes collagen production, supports immune function, and comes in natural orange flavor, cherry and grape.
This supplement is suitable for vegans, free of major food allergens, nightshade-free, gelatin-free, sweetened with organic cane sugar, and celiac-friendly. It is also dye-free, colored naturally with annatto, black carrot, and grape extracts to color the gummies.
This vitamin c supplement contains 125 mg of ascorbic acid, making it the best Vit C for kids and the best vitamin C gummies. The recommended usage for ages two and over is one gummy per day. For any child 12 and under, the physician or healthcare provider should be consulted.
Each bottle contains 60 servings. The return policy is easy, with a 90-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied, you can call for a refund without returning the product.
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Vitamin C
A high-quality supplement that provides vitamin c with bioflavonoids with a blend of 23 fruits and vegetables, live probiotics, and enzymes.
- Fruit and Vegetable blend
- Contain probiotics and enzymes
- Non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan certified
- Not intended for children
Garden of Life’s Vitamin C helps maintain healthy skin and eyes, heart health, and immune system support and provides additional live probiotics and enzymes to help with digestion.
It is a high-dose Vit C at 500 mg and includes various other ingredients. It includes its Vit C derived from a bacteria called Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This supplement also contains 720 mg of 23 fruits and vegetables to provide a variety of bioflavonoids like citrus bioflavonoids from citrus fruits.
Lastly, it contains 60 mg of a raw probiotic and enzyme blend. It does not contain artificial sweeteners, added sugars, binders, or fillers.
The recommendation is to take two capsules per day, with or without food. If the capsule is not tolerated, it can be cracked open and added to water or juice.
Garden of Life has a 30-day money-back guarantee. To obtain a refund, a call must be made to the company, where you can arrange the return of the products for reimbursement.
Thorne Vitamin C with Flavonoids
In Thorne’s Vitamin C with Flavonoids, you will find a supplement that can help support overall health, its bioflavonoids are extracted from oranges.
- Gluten-free, soy and dairy-free
- Bioflavonoids from oranges
- Easy return policy
- Too many capsules if taking other supplements
Thorne’s Vitamin C is a simple ingredient supplement with naturally derived flavors and colors. It is gluten, soy, and dairy-free.
It helps with immune health, collagen production to keep skin, eyes, nails, and hair healthy, and aids in supporting liver detoxification.
This is a high-dose Vit C supplement at 500 mg of ascorbic acid, with 75 mg of citrus bioflavonoids. The bioflavonoids provide a greater antioxidant capacity than Vit C does on its own.
The recommendation is to take one to three capsules per day, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner. It is noted that some people may be sensitive to a higher dose of Vit C, and may experience diarrhea that resolves by reducing the amount taken.
You can buy the product one time or subscribe to save up to 20%. Thorne has a 60-day money-back guarantee, where the product can be returned and your money is returned, credited, or exchanged for a different product.
Benefits Of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of several essential vitamins that the body needs but can’t make on its own. I intake is important because it helps with immune function and collagen production. It’s also an antioxidant, increasing the iron absorption found in plant-based foods[7]. It has also been shown to help regenerate other antioxidants like vitamin E within the body[8].
There is also current research underway regarding Vit C’s role in protecting against certain cancers, how it may support blood vessel health, and reducing cardiovascular disease that can be affected by oxidative stresses.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)[4] for men and women over 19 in vitamin C levels is 90 mg and 75 mg. Having a Vit C deficiency can lead to symptoms of feeling tired, bleeding gums, pain in the joints, weakness, and possibly the breaking of the smallest blood vessels in the body, known as capillaries. In the long term, low intake of Vit C, there is a possibility that a person can develop scurvy over several weeks of little intake of Vit C or a very restricted diet. But this disease is less common in developed countries.
Avoid vitamin C deficiency by following a balanced eating pattern that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, which are the highest sources of Vit C and can provide enough for the body’s needs. Having an excess amount of Vit C in the body can lead to kidney stones, but only in those that already have kidney disease and are not functioning optimally.
How To Choose The Best Vitamin C Supplements?
When choosing the best Vit C supplements, the supplement company must follow the FDA requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices.
Third-party testing is also a marker of supplement quality. If third-party tested, you are at a higher chance of obtaining a high-quality vitamin.
It’s also important to know if you are sensitive to high doses of vitamin C. Some Vit C supplements have high doses that can irritate the stomach and intestinal lining.
In this case, you can search for a lower dosage supplement with mineral buffers added or choose between capsule, powder, or chewable vitamin options.
Final Thought
Naturally occurring vitamin C can be found in many foods. Good sources of Vit C are found in fruits and vegetables like sweet red peppers, orange juice, oranges, grapefruit juice, kiwi, broccoli, and strawberries, to name a few.
According to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) What We Eat In America 2015-2018, Vit C intakes of non-smoking men, women, and children indicate a Vit C intake that is adequate and within the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)[9]. A good and balanced diet can provide enough Vit C, but the variety in the diet needs to be consistent.
Because of its water solubility, it is important to have a consistent Vit C intake. If a vitamin is water-soluble, this means it’s removed from the body along with fluid loss. This is where taking Vit C dietary supplements can help close that nutrition gap if there is any.
Frequently Asked Questions
They are generally safe to consume, as Vit C has low toxicity and is not known to cause serious side effects. Although, some people may be sensitive to Vit C and may need to take smaller doses.
You can use Vit C supplements daily with a balanced diet to help obtain the optimum amount for your body.
No, Vit C does not directly cause kidney damage. However, in those that already have kidney disease[10], they may be more at risk for kidney stone formation due to the oxalates present in Vit C.
The range can vary from 25 milligrams to 500 milligrams of Vit C per serving.
Depending on a person’s sensitivity level, the most common symptoms of too much Vit C can be upset stomach or diarrhea.
At the moment, there aren’t any contraindications but always consult with a physician before starting the use of an over-the-counter supplement.
Some Vit C supplements are suitable for vegans; those will display a vegan badge.
Some Vit C supplements are made specifically for children, with lower doses and clearly labeled to be kid-friendly.
+ 9 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- Nih.gov. (2020). Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin C. [online] Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Vitaminc-Healthprofessional/
- Murray, M.T. (2020). Flavonoids—Quercetin, Citrus Flavonoids, and Hydroxyethylrutosides. Textbook of Natural Medicine, [online] pp.613-619.e2. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323430449000819
- opss. (2018). Proprietary blends: What does this mean? [online] Available at: https://www.opss.org/article/proprietary-blends-what-does-mean
- Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. (2000). [online] Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Available at: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9810/dietary-reference-intakes-for-vitamin-c-vitamin-e-selenium-and-carotenoids
- Prakash, A. and Baskaran, R. (2018). Acerola, an untapped functional superfruit: a review on latest frontiers. Journal of Food Science and Technology, [online] 55(9), pp.3373–3384. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6098779/
- Panche, A.N., Diwan, A.D. and Chandra, S.R. (2016). Flavonoids: an overview. Journal of Nutritional Science, [online] 5. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28620474/
- Doseděl, M., Jirkovský, E., Macáková, K., Krčmová, L., Javorská, L., Pourová, J., Mercolini, L., Remião, F., Nováková, L. and Mladěnka, P. (2021). Vitamin C—Sources, Physiological Role, Kinetics, Deficiency, Use, Toxicity, and Determination. Nutrients, [online] 13(2), p.615. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/615/htm
- Jacob, R.A. and Sotoudeh, G. (2002). Vitamin C Function and Status in Chronic Disease. Nutrition in Clinical Care, [online] 5(2), pp.66–74. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12134712/
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 2021. Total Usual Nutrient Intake from Food, Beverages, and Dietary Supplements, by Gender and Age, What We Eat in America, NHANES 2015-2018 Available www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg
Written by:
Blanca Garcia, RDN
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
