Vitamin C in citrus fruit

Citrus is the largest genus in the family Rutaceae and is the most traded horticultural product in the world. Consumption of citrus fruits or their products is found to be inversely associated with several diseases. Citrus fruits and juices are rich sources of bioactive compounds, like flavonoids, carotenoids, limonoids, coumarin-related compounds, folates, essential oils, pectins and vitamin C.

Vitamin C, also is known as ascorbic acid contributes to many health benefits such as prevention of scurvy and cancer, relief from common cold, stimulate collagen synthesis and play a significant role in wound healing process.

Citrus is an excellent source of vitamin C. Most persons can achieve 100% of the RDA for vitamin C by consuming moderate amounts of citrus fruit.

Ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant, a nutrient that chemically binds and neutralizes the tissue damaging effects of substances in the environment known as free radicals.

Reports show that vitamin C content in orange juices are between 29.0 and 82.5 mg/100 mL. Navel and Pineapple oranges have the highest contents of vitamin C, 82.5 and 78.0 mg/100 mL of juice, respectively.
Vitamin C in citrus fruit

What vitamins and minerals are found in citrus juice?

Fruit and vegetable juices are very good sources of the essential nutrients. Orange and grapefruit contains nutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and a mineral profile that is low or free of sodium while being high in potassium.

Most citrus cultivars are free of lipids, contain high levels of vitamins C and contain folate acid, thiamin, and to a lesser extent vitamin B6, niacin and riboflavin.

Vitamin C is relatively stable in citrus product during processing and storage. In addition to vitamin C or ascorbic acid, citrus juices also contain vitamin B complex and provitamin A.

Orange is rich in vitamin C and potassium and low in sodium. Grapefruit juice contains a lower concentration of folate, thiamin and niacin than orange juice.

The juice of citrus fruit contains about 0.4% ash. The ash content of orange juice was generally the highest in immature fruit and gradually decreased as fruit maturity progressed.
What vitamins and minerals are found in citrus juice?

Vitamin C in citrus fruit

Citrus fruits such as lemons, sweet orange, mandarin or tangerine contain vitamin C which prevents the deficiency disease scurvy.

Citrus fruits and juices are excellent sources of vitamin C containing more than the minimum daily requirements of 60 mg of vitamin C in 240 ml of juice.

There is considerable variation in the vitamin C content of juices of different citrus fruits. Grape fruit, tangerine and lemon generally contain between 20 and 50 mg.100 mL juice.

Vitamin C is an important antioxidant, which increase the protective antioxidant layer, glutathione concentration around the cells. Vitamin C also critical for production of collagen. Greater acidity or sour taste is a clear indicator for greater amount of vitamin C existence in citrus fruits.

Freshly squeezed juice usually has the highest vitamin C content, followed by juice made from frozen concentrate.

Unopened canned and bottled juices are next best: stored at room temperature, they retain more than 75 percent of their vitamin C for a year or longer.
Vitamin C in citrus fruit