TL;DR
Your body can't make vitamin C, so it has to come from what you eat every day. USANA Poly C delivers it as a proprietary blend of calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc mineral ascorbates, designed for superior bioavailability and prolonged vitamin C activity while reducing the potential for stomach irritation. The Australian formula adds citrus bioflavonoids, rutin and quercetin.
You can watch the English video walkthrough here: USANA Poly C: More Than Vitamin C.
A Nutrient Your Body Cannot Make
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that must be provided by the diet, because your body can't make it naturally. You probably know it from citrus fruits, but it is also found in spinach, bell peppers, kiwi, Brussels sprouts, berries, tomatoes and broccoli. As a water-soluble nutrient, it has to arrive through what you eat, day after day.
What Vitamin C Does for You
Vitamin C carries dual importance: it is the body's premier water-soluble antioxidant, and it is a coenzyme essential for the synthesis and health of connective tissues in the skin and throughout the body.
- Antioxidant activity — vitamin C readily gives up electrons, neutralising compounds that cause oxidative damage, which helps protect cells throughout your body and maintain cellular health.
- Collagen — it supports collagen synthesis (a major structural protein in the body) to help maintain healthy skin, gums, cartilage, blood vessels, muscle and bones, and supports the development and maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth and gums.
- Immune function — it supports immune function and helps support white blood cells, also known as leukocytes. Leukocytes accumulate vitamin C to protect themselves from the oxidants they use in their work. Vitamin C also helps prolong the activity of vitamin E.
- Iron and eyes — it helps your body use iron and supports eye health.
Ascorbic Acid and the Rhythm of Absorption
The most familiar supplemental form is pure ascorbic acid. Very high dosages of vitamin C — several grams or more — may cause or contribute to gastrointestinal distress.
Absorption has its own rhythm too. The body absorbs vitamin C more efficiently in moderate dosages (under 1,000 mg), and blood vitamin C levels rise after a dose and then decline over time.
Poly C: Four Mineral Ascorbates
Poly C is USANA's proprietary vitamin C blend — a unique combination of calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc mineral ascorbates (mineral salts). These mineral ascorbates provide superior bioavailability and prolonged vitamin C activity, while also reducing the potential for stomach irritation.
Poly C is also part of several USANA formulas, including CellSentials, Proflavanol and Booster C 600.
What the Study Found
USANA scientists studied how this blend affected vitamin C levels in the blood. In a double-blind pharmacokinetic study, volunteers took the same amount of vitamin C, either as Poly C or as pure ascorbic acid, and their blood was sampled over the following 10 hours.
In this study, blood vitamin C levels were consistently higher in the Poly C group across the entire 10-hour study period. In other words, Poly C has been shown to increase and maintain higher levels of vitamin C in the blood than equal amounts of ascorbic acid alone. Study results apply to the conditions tested; individual results vary.
Bioflavonoids, Rutin and Quercetin
In nature, vitamin C rarely travels alone. The stand-alone Poly C sold in Australia also contains citrus bioflavonoids, rutin and quercetin, so you can have the combined benefits of vitamin C and bioflavonoids. Together, these antioxidants provide powerful defence against oxidative damage to support overall health and wellness.
Each tablet (Australian label):
- Vitamin C equivalent to 600 mg ascorbic acid, from calcium ascorbate 376.1 mg, potassium ascorbate 255.7 mg, magnesium ascorbate 112.8 mg and zinc ascorbate 7.5 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 65 mg (standardised to hesperidin 8.45 mg)
- Rutoside (rutin) 7 mg
- Quercetin dihydrate 3 mg
How to Take It
The Australian label directions are simple: adults take two to four tablets daily, preferably with meals. Because moderate doses are absorbed more efficiently, spreading your tablets across two or more doses during the day helps optimise absorption and maintain healthy vitamin C levels.
Poly C is formulated to complement USANA CellSentials, providing extra vitamin C when you really need it. According to its label, it is a vitamin C blend with bioflavonoids that may help prevent vitamin C deficiency and aids in the maintenance or improvement of general well-being.
Important Notes
- Adults only. Contains soya bean products and benzoates.
- Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet.
- Consult your physician if you are pregnant, nursing, taking a prescription medication or have a medical condition.
- The stand-alone Poly C product is not available in every country, and formulas differ by region — always read your local label.
Watch the Video
Related Reading
- USANA Poly C product page
- What are antioxidants?
- Antioxidant Supplements Explained
- How to Take USANA CellSentials
This article covers the Australian formula. It is educational only and does not provide medical advice. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always read the product label and follow the directions for use.
