Vitamin C in fruit juice

Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins in plant foods not only for its nutritional role in human diet but also for its high antioxidant capacity. Most fruits and vegetables contain very high proportions of water which makes them easy to squeeze or pulverize into a juice.

Depending on the fruit or vegetable from which it is made, the juice may provide some vitamin A and/or C. The vitamin C of fruits increases until just before ripening and then declares, due to the action of an enzyme, ascorbic acid oxidase.

When fruits are cooked, much of the ascorbic acid transfers from the tissue into the liquid and may be oxidised, oxidation occurring more easily in iron, copper or badly tinned vessels.

Vitamin C prevents the deficiency disease scurvy, and is particularly abundant in citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and limes. Orange juice is the principal source of vitamin C daily intake in developed countries.

Fruit juices come to market in cans, bottles and cartons. They arrive fresh, as frozen concentrates, or in powdered forms that often contain added sugar.
Vitamin C in fruit juice