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Vitamin C 500 mg

4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(1544 ratings)
Vitamin C 500 mg
Product Image
Score85
A basic 500 mg tablet with excellent value and clear labeling. It gives up buffering, supporting ingredients, and full excipient transparency to stay simple.
How scoring works
Tablet
Quantity:100 Tablet(s) • (100 servings)
Goals:
Immunity
General Health
Skin Health
Anti-Inflammatory Support

Score 85

A basic 500 mg tablet with excellent value and clear labeling. It gives up buffering, supporting ingredients, and full excipient transparency to stay simple.
How scoring works

Also available as

3 options
1000mg • 300 Tablet(s) servings C 1000 mg • 300 Tablet(s) • 300 servings $22.66 ($0.07 per serving) 500mg • 90 Capsule(s) servings C 500 mg • 90 Capsule(s) • 90 servings $6.86 ($0.07 per serving) 1000mg • 133 Tablet(s) servings C 1000 mg • 133 Tablet(s) • 133 servings $13.49 ($0.10 per serving)
$5.90($0.05 per serving)
iHerb
$ 5.90
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Analysis

The 500 mg ascorbic acid serving is well suited to everyday antioxidant, collagen, and immune support. A single-active formula keeps the product easy to assess and avoids unnecessary additions.

Plain ascorbic acid may be less comfortable than a mineral ascorbate, and no advanced delivery is described. The supplied data also do not provide the complete excipient list.

Low cost per active amount is the main competitive strength. People who want a straightforward tablet and already tolerate acidic vitamin C are the strongest match.

Who is it for
  • Budget-conscious adults
  • Users who tolerate plain ascorbic acid
  • People seeking a moderate daily serving
Best for
  • Basic immune support
  • Antioxidant support
  • Economical routine use

Pros

  • Useful 500 mg amount
  • Excellent cost efficiency
  • Simple active formula

Cons

  • Unbuffered ascorbic acid
  • No complementary actives
  • Inactive ingredients are not fully disclosed here

Warnings

  • The acidic form may cause stomach irritation in sensitive users.
  • A full serving at once can cause loose stools for some people.
  • Users who need a gentler formula may be better served by buffered mineral ascorbate.

Nutrient quality

87 Highest impact

Ascorbic acid is established but has no stated buffering or enhanced-delivery feature. The moderate vitamin C serving is meaningful for routine supplementation.

Ingredient transparency

83 Highest impact

All listed active amounts are disclosed without a proprietary blend. Complete directions and inactive-ingredient details remain incomplete.

Customer satisfaction

72 High impact

The aggregate rating and its volume provide a favorable top-level signal. Missing experience details prevent assessment of repeated complaints or purpose-specific satisfaction.

Value for money

97 Highest impact

The simple serving is highly competitive on value. The focused active profile strengthens the formula-to-cost balance.

Report analysis

Goals

Immunity
Immunity
Impact
Highest effect
A Goal FitB+ Strength of SupportC CoverageA+ Formula Quality
Vitamin C · 500 mg

A focused vitamin C dose supports immune-cell activity, epithelial barriers, and antioxidant defense. The formula does not cover other immune nutrients, but its main contribution is direct and relevant.

The 500 mg serving meets the stated minimum and is clearly labeled. Unbuffered ascorbic acid may feel acidic to sensitive users, while the simple tablet avoids unnecessary active ingredients.

Study evidence
Vitamin C Supportive 53 studies
General Health
General Health
Impact
Highest effect
B+ Goal FitB+ Strength of SupportC CoverageA Formula Quality
Vitamin C · 500 mg

A clearly disclosed vitamin C serving supports antioxidant defenses, normal immune function, and collagen production. The formula is useful for one foundational nutrient need but does not offer broad coverage.

The 500 mg amount is substantial for routine supplementation and easy to evaluate. Plain ascorbic acid lacks buffering and may be less comfortable for sensitive stomachs, while the simple design avoids unnecessary ingredients.

Study evidence
Vitamin C Supportive 56 studies
Skin Health
Skin Health
Impact
High effect
B- Goal FitB Strength of SupportD+ CoverageA Formula Quality
Vitamin C · 500 mg

Vitamin C supplies a direct cofactor for collagen formation and supports antioxidant defense. The single-nutrient formula does not address skin hydration, barrier lipids, or structural collagen intake.

The amount is clearly disclosed and suitable for routine supplementation. Plain ascorbic acid can cause stomach discomfort in sensitive users, especially alongside other acidic vitamin C sources.

Study evidence
Vitamin C Supportive 53 studies
Anti-Inflammatory Support
Cellular Defense
Anti-Inflammatory Support
Impact
High effect
C+ Goal FitB+ Strength of SupportD+ CoverageA Formula Quality
Vitamin C · 500 mg

A practical vitamin C dose supports antioxidant defenses and may help limit oxidative stress. Its role in inflammatory support is useful but less direct than targeted fatty acids or standardized botanicals.

The one-ingredient formula is transparent and avoids distracting extras. Unbuffered ascorbic acid may be less comfortable for acid-sensitive users.

Study evidence
Vitamin C Supportive 50 studies
Vision Support
Macular and Blue Light Defense
Vision Support
Impact
Moderate effect
D- Goal FitB Strength of SupportD- CoverageC Formula Quality
Vitamin C · 500 mg

Vitamin C provides antioxidant support relevant to ocular tissues, but no lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, dha, or vitamin e is included. A 500 mg serving provides a meaningful vitamin C amount, but it does not supply the core carotenoids or structural lipids used for targeted vision support.

The product addresses only water-soluble antioxidant defense and does not cover macular pigment or retinal lipid pathways. The simple vitamin C design is internally coherent for antioxidant supplementation.

Study evidence
Vitamin C Disputed 24 studies

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
 500 mg
Gluten Free Adults 18–50 Dairy Free Sugar Free Vegetarian
Report overview
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) · 500 mg OverallScore68
F Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityA Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyA+ Value

The 500 mg serving is efficient and clearly disclosed. Plain ascorbic acid lacks buffering, so sensitive users may find it less comfortable. Its simple presentation and very low cost per gram make it a strong basic-value option.

View ingredientView products
Loading alternative details
89 Performance

C-500 Calcium Ascorbate-C

NOW
The buffered vitamin C form may be easier to tolerate than the original plain ascorbic acid formula. Its 500 mg of calcium ascorbate is buffered and includes 55 mg of calcium; the 10 mg bioflavonoid addition is modest.
88 Performance

Buffered Gold C

California Gold Nutrition
The buffered vitamin C form may be easier to tolerate than the original plain ascorbic acid formula. Its 1,000 mg of sodium ascorbate is buffered and simply formulated, with 130 mg of sodium clearly disclosed.
88 Performance

Sodium Ascorbate Capsules

NutriBiotic Immunity
The buffered vitamin C form may be easier to tolerate than the original plain ascorbic acid formula. Its capsules provide 850 mg of buffered sodium ascorbate with a clearly disclosed 100 mg sodium contribution.
85 Budget

C-500 With Rose Hips

NOW
The supplied serving-cost data indicates a less expensive way to obtain a comparable vitamin C serving. Compared with the original plain ascorbic acid formula, it supplies 500 mg of ascorbic acid with 40 mg of rose hips, although the vitamin C remains unbuffered.
83 Budget

C 500 mg

21st Century
The supplied serving-cost data indicates a less expensive way to obtain a comparable vitamin C serving. Compared with the original plain ascorbic acid formula, it supplies 500 mg of ascorbic acid with 30 mg of calcium in a basic, clearly dosed formula.
85 Budget

Gold C Vitamin C 1000 mg

California Gold Nutrition
The supplied serving-cost data indicates a less expensive way to obtain a comparable vitamin C serving. Compared with the original plain ascorbic acid formula, it supplies 1,000 mg of plain ascorbic acid without extra actives, favoring simplicity rather than buffering.
87 Value

100% Pure Vitamin C Powder

Swanson Premium Brand
The combination of a focused ingredient list and efficient supply makes it a stronger value candidate than the original plain ascorbic acid formula. Its powder provides 1,000 mg of ascorbic acid with flexible measuring, though the acidic form may not suit every user.
87 Value

C 500 mg

Mason Natural
The combination of a focused ingredient list and efficient supply makes it a stronger value candidate than the original plain ascorbic acid formula. Its single active is 500 mg of ascorbic acid, making the label easy to assess despite the lack of buffering.
88 Value

Sodium Ascorbate

NutriBiotic Immunity
The combination of a focused ingredient list and efficient supply makes it a stronger value candidate than the original plain ascorbic acid formula. Its 1,100 mg of sodium ascorbate is fully buffered, but the disclosed 120 mg of sodium matters for sodium-restricted users.
Report alternatives

Sources

Published studies used for the product analysis and the top-ranked studies for each ingredient and goal.

  1. Associations of Serum Biomarkers of Fruit and Vegetable Intake With the Risk of Cause-Specific Mortality and All-Cause Mortality: A National Prospective Cohort Study.
    Pu L; Zhang R; Wang X; Zhao T; Sun H; Han L · Frontiers in nutrition · 2022
    Cohort study12,530 participantsGeneral Health forVitamin C
  2. Serum vitamin C and spinal pain: a nationwide study.
    Dionne CE; Laurin D; Desrosiers T; Abdous B; Le Sage N; Frenette J; Mondor M; Pelletier S · Pain · 2017
    Cross-sectional study4,742 participantsGeneral Health forVitamin C
  3. Vitamin C and contribution to the normal function of the immune system: evaluation of a health claim pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
    EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) · EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority · 2026
    Guideline / consensusImmunity forVitamin C
  4. Immunocompetence and oxidant defense during ascorbate depletion of healthy men.
    Jacob RA; Kelley DS; Pianalto FS; Swendseid ME; Henning SM; Zhang JZ; Ames BN; Fraga CG; Peters JH · The American journal of clinical nutrition · 1992
    Clinical trial8 participantsImmunity forVitamin C
  5. Comparative Study on the Outcome of Periorbital Wrinkles Treated with Laser-Assisted Delivery of Vitamin C or Vitamin C Plus Growth Factors: A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial.
    Machado BHB; Frame J; Zhang J; Najlah M · Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2021
    Randomized trial149 participantsSkin Health forVitamin C
  6. Association between hemoglobin A1c, Vitamin C, and microbiome in diabetic foot ulcers and intact skin: A cross-sectional study.
    Tong KPS; Green SJ; Ortiz J; Wu SC · Health science reports · 2024
    Cross-sectional study42 participantsSkin Health forVitamin C
  7. Efficacy of Vitamin C as Glucocorticoid Substitute for Reducing Pain and Inflammation After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
    Jiang W; Xu H; Jiang X; Zhan Y; Ju Y; Xie J; Huang Z; Huang Q; Pei F · The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume · 2025
    Randomized trial107 participantsAnti-Inflammatory Support forVitamin C
  8. The Impact of Vitamin C on Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, and Hemostatic Outcomes After Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
    Moftakhari Hajimirzaei S; Bagherzadeh Cham M; Dolikhani M; Tabatabaee SM; Ebrahimpour A · The archives of bone and joint surgery · 2026
    Meta-analysis1,162 participants10 studies pooledAnti-Inflammatory Support forVitamin C
  9. The impact of vitamin C supplementation on the perioperative outcomes after total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Liu X; Guo J; Li Y; Yang Y; Liu M; Gao Q; Yang Y; Wu X; Yue C · BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026
    Meta-analysis852 participants8 studies pooledAnti-Inflammatory Support forVitamin C
  10. Therapeutic Impact of Ascorbic Acid on Oral and Periodontal Tissues: A Systematic Literature Review.
    Ruzijevaite G; Acaite E; Jagelaviciene E · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025
    Systematic review811 participants17 studies pooledAnti-Inflammatory Support forVitamin C
  11. Oral vitamin C administration reduces early recurrence rates after electrical cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation and attenuates associated inflammation.
    Korantzopoulos P; Kolettis TM; Kountouris E; Dimitroula V; Karanikis P; Pappa E; Siogas K; Goudevenos JA · International journal of cardiology · 2005
    Randomized trial44 participantsAnti-Inflammatory Support forVitamin C
  12. Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.
    Aune D; Keum N; Giovannucci E; Fadnes LT; Boffetta P; Greenwood DC; Tonstad S; Vatten LJ; Riboli E; Norat T · The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2019
    Meta-analysis69 studies pooledGeneral Health forVitamin C
  13. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to vitamin C and increasing non haem iron absorption pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
    EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) · EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority · 2026
    Guideline / consensusGeneral Health forVitamin C
  14. Vitamin C Depletion and All-Cause Mortality in Renal Transplant Recipients.
    Sotomayor CG; Eisenga MF; Gomes Neto AW; Ozyilmaz A; Gans ROB; Jong WHA; Zelle DM; Berger SP; Gaillard CAJM; Navis GJ; Bakker SJ · Nutrients · 2018
    Cohort study598 participantsGeneral Health forVitamin C
  15. Relation between plasma ascorbic acid and mortality in men and women in EPIC-Norfolk prospective study: a prospective population study. European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.
    Khaw KT; Bingham S; Welch A; Luben R; Wareham N; Oakes S; Day N · Lancet (London, England) · 2001
    Cohort study19,496 participantsGeneral Health forVitamin C
  16. Therapeutic effects of high-dose vitamin C supplementation in patients with COVID-19: a meta-analysis.
    Sun L; Zhao JH; Fan WY; Feng B; Liu WW; Chen RQ; Ban C; Dang AG; Wang M; Luo KT; Zhou GY; Yu FF; Ba Y · Nutrition reviews · 2024
    Meta-analysis2,334 participants14 studies pooledImmunity forVitamin C
  17. Effect of micronutrient supplements on influenza and other respiratory tract infections among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Abioye AI; Bromage S; Fawzi W · BMJ global health · 2021
    Meta-analysisImmunity forVitamin C
  18. New evidence for antioxidant properties of vitamin C.
    Vojdani A; Bazargan M; Vojdani E; Wright J · Cancer detection and prevention · 2001
    Randomized trial20 participantsImmunity forVitamin C
  19. Enhanced Vitamin C Delivery: A Systematic Literature Review Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Alternative Supplement Forms in Healthy Adults.
    Calder PC; Kreider RB; McKay DL · Nutrients · 2025
    Systematic review13 studies pooledImmunity forVitamin C
  20. Evaluation of the anti-wrinkle effect of an ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch via a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.
    Lee C; Yang H; Kim S; Kim M; Kang H; Kim N; An S; Koh J; Jung H · International journal of cosmetic science · 2017
    Randomized trial23 participantsSkin Health forVitamin C
  21. Randomized trial of topical ascorbic acid in DMSO versus imiquimod for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma.
    Burke B; Bailie JE · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie · 2022
    Randomized trial25 participantsSkin Health forVitamin C
  22. Vitamin C improves healing of foot ulcers: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
    Gunton JE; Girgis CM; Lau T; Vicaretti M; Begg L; Flood V · The British journal of nutrition · 2022
    Randomized trial16 participantsSkin Health forVitamin C
  23. Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women.
    Cosgrove MC; Franco OH; Granger SP; Murray PG; Mayes AE · The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2007
    Cross-sectional study4,025 participantsSkin Health forVitamin C
  24. Role of Oral Vitamin 'C' on Astigmatic Errors in Phacoemulsification.
    Mohan S; Sah K; Khattri M; Ahmad L; Sachan SK · Current eye research · 2021
    Randomized trial400 participantsVision Support forVitamin C
  25. Ascorbic acid metabolites are involved in intraocular pressure control in the general population.
    Hysi PG; Khawaja AP; Menni C; Tamraz B; Wareham N; Khaw KT; Foster PJ; Benet LZ; Spector TD; Hammond CJ · Redox biology · 2019
    Observational studyVision Support forVitamin C
  26. Nutritional modulation of cataract.
    Weikel KA; Garber C; Baburins A; Taylor A · Nutrition reviews · 2014
    Narrative reviewVision Support forVitamin C
  27. Dietary n-3 Fatty Acid, α-Tocopherol, Zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, and β-carotene are Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Japan.
    Aoki A; Inoue M; Nguyen E; Obata R; Kadonosono K; Shinkai S; Hashimoto H; Sasaki S; Yanagi Y · Scientific reports · 2017
    Case-control study530 participantsVision Support forVitamin C
  28. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet, lifestyle and age-related macular degeneration: the Coimbra Eye Study - report 3.
    Raimundo M; Mira F; Cachulo MDL; Barreto P; Ribeiro L; Farinha C; Laíns I; Nunes S; Alves D; Figueira J; Merle BM; Delcourt C; Santos L; Silva R · Acta ophthalmologica · 2019
    Case-control study883 participantsVision Support forVitamin C