Question

A claim put forth by some purveyors of health foods is that vitamins obtained from natural sources are more healthful than those obtained by chemical synthesis. For example, pure L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) extracted from rose hips is thought to be healthier than pure L-ascorbic acid manufactured in a chemical plant. Are the vitamins from the two sources different? Can the body distinguish a vitamin's source? Select the true statement(s) about synthetic vitamin C and vitamin C obtained from natural sources. Synthetic vitamin C that consists of pure L-ascorbic acid is equivalent to pure L-ascorbic acid that is obtained from natural sources. Synthetic vitamin C that consists of pure D-ascorbic acid is equivalent to pure vitamin C that is obtained from natural sources. The impurities found in synthetic vitamin C are the same impurities found in the vitamin C obtained from natural sources. Impurities found in synthetic vitamin C pills may affect its bioavailability and toxicity.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

Synthetic vitamin C that consists of pure L-ascorbic acid is equivalent to pure L-ascorbic acid that is obtained from natural sources.

The body cannot distinguish the source; only associated impurities might vary with the source.