Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbate, is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus fruits, berries, and various vegetables. It exists in the form of ascorbic acid and is essential for tissue repair, collagen formation, and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters. The vitamin plays a crucial role in immune system function and acts as an antioxidant. While most animals can synthesize their own vitamin C, humans, along with higher primates, most bats, guinea pigs, some fish, and certain bird species, must obtain it through their diet due to a genetic mutation that disables the enzyme responsible for its synthesis.