Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes form the leading NCD affecting Indians, associated with the highest mortality rates. Two-thirds of Indians affected by NCD fall in the most productive age group (26 to 59 years), as per a 2021 Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India report. Of these, diabetes and hypertension have particularly high associated burdens, with a prevalence of 2.9 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively, across the country.
Alongside good diet and nutrition to enable better NCD management, there is a clear need for self-care solutions to maintain optimal health. While a healthy, balanced diet is essential for good nutrition, the country’s nutritional consumption is inadequate on its own, with people’s existing diets contributing to malnutrition and rising NCD incidence.
Below - mentioned are three reasons why vitamin C plays a vital role in NCD management:
- vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) plays a crucial role in supporting various aspects of the immune system.
- As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C also strengthens the body’s natural defenses.
Dr. Deepak Director and Chair, Pulmonary Sleep and Critical Care, Metro Center for Respiratory Diseases, Noida stated, “vitamin C is an essential nutrient to boost immunity. It is observed that patients with common NCD, like diabetes and hypertension, require more vitamin C than others, owing to the high oxidative stress seen in these patients. Specifically, patients with diabetes have 30% lower vitamin C concentrations than non-diabetics. Individuals can boost their regular nutritional intake through vitamin C supplementation, in addition to a rich, balanced diet, comprising citrus foods and tomatoes.”
- vitamin C also plays a role in alleviating seasonal infections, like cold and flu, during the winter, especially in people suffering from NCD. In cardiovascular diseases or hypertension patients, the nutrient can protect end-organ damage and improve vascular endothelial function, which helps regulate blood clotting. Explaining the role of vitamin C, Dr. Parag Director, Global Medical Affairs, Abbott said, vitamin C offers impressive health benefits, such as boosting immunity and antioxidant levels. Abbott is committed to raising awareness on the importance of vitamin C, thereby encouraging adequate daily intake, which can benefit immunity and promotes overall health and well-being. By providing trusted, quality solutions to meet specific local needs, we aim to help people benefit from good health and live better, fuller lives
Good health and immunity are very important for all people and the last two years have borne witness to this fact. This is, in fact, essential not just now but also in the longer-term for both seasonal infections and non-communicable diseases (NCD). It is a sad truth that NCD prevalence in India shows a spike in recent years and associated morbidity is also increasing by around 83 per cent in the last three decades. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes are the leading NCD that affect Indians and are the ones that account for the highest mortality rates. This is indeed unfortunate because, according to a report, around two thirds of patients in India, who are affected by NCD, are from the 26 to 59 years age-group. This is also the most productive age.
Alongside good diet and nutrition to manage NCD, you must adopt some self-care solutions to maintain optimal health. Of course, a healthy, balanced diet is essential for good nutrition. Here, it needs to be mentioned that vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) is an essential micronutrient that plays a crucial role in supporting various aspects of the immune system. It is a powerful antioxidant, which strengthens the body's natural defenses. According to Dr Parag Director, Global Medical Affairs, Abbott, says, "vitamin C offers impressive health benefits, such as boosting immunity and antioxidant levels."
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