And a recent study showed that people who consume more vitamin C have a larger pool in their muscles.

This is important because Vitamin C plays a crucial role in muscle tissue. First, it functions as an antioxidant and helps protect muscle tissue from the potentially damaging free radicals that can be produced during exercise. And second, it’s also an enzyme, and consequently acts as a cofactor in the production of collagen and carnitine.

But keep in mind, you don’t need to take a supplement to ensure sufficient levels of vitamin C, it’s one of those nutrients that’s found in tonnes of foods (mainly fruits and vegetables), and they’re your best source.

I learned about this fact from: Carr AC, Bozonet SM, Pullar JM, Simcock JW, Vissers MC. 2013. Human skeletal muscle ascorbate is highly responsive to changes in vitamin C intake and plasma concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr 97(4):800-7. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.053207.