Due to a medical condition, Doctor advised Xiao Yu to take Vitamin C long-term. However, Xiao Yu usually loves eating pork liver. His wife had heard from someone that one should not eat animal livers while taking Vitamin C, though she didn't understand the reason. They consulted a doctor at the hospital, and the doctor's answer was affirmative. So, why should one avoid eating animal livers when taking Vitamin C?
Vitamin C can prevent and treat scurvy and is also known as "ascorbic acid." Through years of animal experiments and clinical research, it has been found that Vitamin C can lower blood cholesterol levels, enhance immunity, increase capillary elasticity, promote the healing of wounds and surgical incisions, prevent colds, promote growth and development, prevent chronic poisoning from metals like mercury and lead, prevent aging, and help prevent tumors. Therefore, besides for treating illnesses, many people now consciously take Vitamin C, especially some middle-aged and elderly people who prefer to take it regularly or long-term.
However, Vitamin C is extremely prone to oxidation. When it encounters copper ions, its oxidation rate can increase by 1000 times compared to normal. Animal liver is rich in copper elements. If taken simultaneously, Vitamin C and copper will rapidly oxidize, causing it to lose its normal effectiveness and potentially even adverse reactions. Furthermore, Vitamin C is an acidic drug. If taken with alkaline drugs, it will become ineffective due to acid-base neutralization. Therefore, there is a scientific basis for not eating pork liver while taking Vitamin C. Additionally, it should be noted that Vitamin C is after all a drug. When there is no abnormal condition in the body, long-term or high-dose intake of Vitamin C may cause side effects such as hematuria, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. So, while Vitamin C is beneficial, healthy individuals should not take it long-term or in large amounts. Pharmacists in pharmacies should be well aware of this and must remind customers who come to purchase Vitamin C.