The role and effects of vitamin c

Physiological functions of vitamin C

1, vitamin C is a very active reducing agent, with antioxidant effect, can protect the body's enzymes from toxic substances damage, protect liver function, enhance the detoxification function of the liver. In the clinical occurrence of heavy metal or chemical poisoning, the use of vitamin C has an obvious role in assisting detoxification, and also has a certain auxiliary repair effect on the liver cells that have been damaged.

2, vitamin C can promote the synthesis of collagen, help the formation of bone, connective tissue, cartilage, teeth and skin, and can reduce the permeability of capillaries.

3, vitamin C can improve the function of the heart muscle, and there is a synergistic effect between it and other vitamins, which can alleviate the deficiency caused by the deficiency of vitamin E, B1, B12 and pantothenic acid, etc., and enhance the stress resistance of animals. In addition, there is a synergistic effect between vitamin C and mineral elements, through changing the absorption, metabolism and excretion of minerals and other processes with these elements.

4, animals under stress will produce immunosuppression due to increased secretion of glucocorticoids, vitamin C can reduce the secretion of glucocorticoids, thus improving the ability to resist stress and enhancing the immune response.

Vitamin C deficiency and effects

Adult healthy livestock and poultry can synthesise vitamin C and meet their nutritional needs. However, under stressful conditions such as high temperature, high humidity, immunity, disease and environmental changes, as well as at a young age or under conditions of low energy availability, the body cannot adequately synthesise vitamin C to meet its own needs and must take additional supplements. Otherwise, the normal physiological functions of the organism will be affected, which in turn will cause bleeding in the subcutaneous, muscular and gastrointestinal mucosa, ulcers that do not heal easily, weakened detoxification and redox reactions, scurvy, dysplasia, embryonic necrosis, impaired hoof and foot development, umbilical cord haemorrhage and other pathological symptoms.

Application of vitamin C in animal production

1、Vitamin C is widely used in anti-stress. Use 100-150mg/kg feed before and after animal immunization and during heat stress, which is beneficial to improve the immunization effect and reduce the impact of stress.

2. Vitamin C applied to poultry is beneficial to improve production performance and help the formation of bones and eggshells, especially when used in summer, it can significantly improve eggshell quality.

3、The use of vitamin C in sows during the lactation stage can improve the lactation ability of sows, increase the weaning weight of piglets and reduce weaning stress.

4、Vitamin C is used in aquaculture. As aquatic animals such as fish and shellfish cannot synthesize vitamin C on their own, their sources basically rely on bait, and the content and stability of vitamin C in bait directly affects feeding efficiency and plays a huge role.