Answer:
Regular vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is acidic. This is not the reason why high-dose vitamin C sometimes causes diarrhea, but the acidity can cause stomach irritation in some people. If you want a less-acidic vitamin C, you can choose
Ester-C (calcium ascorbate) or sodium ascorbate. With each, vitamin C is attached to (and is "buffered" by) calcium or sodium. If you are watching your sodium intake,
Ester-C would be preferable. However, there is no evidence of a significant difference in the absorption of any of these forms of vitamin C.
More
details about these forms, as well as our
Top Picks for vitamin C supplements based on our tests and comparisons, are found in the
Vitamin C Supplements Review. The review includes information about other forms of vitamin C, such as slow-release, L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, "fully reduced," liposomal, and
PureWay-C, which includes fatty acids.
Doyle18832
January 10, 2020I have read that Absorbic acid is a synthetic form of vitamin C and that the natural form is much better. Can you comment on this?
Actually, acorbic acid is the natural vitamin and it can also be produced synthetically, as sold in many supplements.
Doyle18834
January 10, 2020Does the synthetic form go y another name? Also, how do you know if you are getting the synthetic or natural form?
Hi Doyle - The product label should say that the vitamin C is "from" a named natural source, such as rose hips. If it is synthetic it should say vitamin C "as" a named synthetic source, such as ascorbic acid.