Vitamin C consists of a water-soluble vitamin known as vitamin C. Vitamin C is also known as L-ascorbic acid or ascorbate.  It occurs as a white or slightly yellow crystal or powder with a slightly acidic taste. On exposure to light, it gradually darkens. In the dry state, it is reasonably stable in air, but in solution, it rapidly oxidizes.

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
• It supports normal immune function and the formation of collagen for healthy skin, bones, teeth and blood vessels.
• It helps the body absorb iron from food.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Vitamin C and call your doctor at once if you have:

• Joint pain, weakness or tired feeling, weight loss, stomach pain;
• Chills, fever, increased urge to urinate, painful or difficult urination; or
• Severe pain in your side or lower back, blood in your urine.

Common side effects may include:

• Heartburn, upset stomach; or

• Nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps.

• Transient mild soreness may occur at the site of intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.
• Too-rapid intravenous administration of the solution may cause temporary faintness or dizziness.
• Although vitamin C is generally considered safe, high doses can cause adverse effects, including heartburn, nausea, headaches, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.
• Vitamin C is not stored in the body. If you take more than you need, the extra vitamin C will pass into your urine.
• Very large doses may also interfere with tests for sugar in diabetics and with tests for blood in the stool.

• Vitamin E is essential to the normal functioning of the human body. It plays a central role in your immune system and functions as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that damage cells at the genetic level.
• Vitamin E is fat-soluble, meaning that it is dissolved in fat and able to be stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body.
   

• Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage.
• It supports healthy skin, eyes and normal nerve function.

Vitamin E supplements rarely cause any harm if taken at the recommended daily dose.
But sometimes lower doses can trigger side effects like

•  nausea,
•  vomiting,
•  stomach pain,
•  diarrhea.
•  Slow down blood clotting

• Vitamin E deficiency is considered rare in the developed world, except in premature babies with low birth weight or in people with rare genetic disorders such as abetalipoproteinemia or ataxia with vitamin E deficiency.
• VitaminE can neither treat nor prevent liver disease but may help slow its progression.
• VitaminE can slow blood clotting and may need to be avoided in people taking blood thinners like Coumadin (warfarin) or Plavix (clopidogrel).
• VitaminE supplements should also be avoided in people with a history of heart attacks, stroke, bleeding disorders, or head and neck cancers.
• VitaminE supplements are presumed to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Vitamin A is important for a healthy immune system, bone growth, vision, cell recognition and reproduction.
• It also works as an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.

• Vitamin A supports normal vision, especially in low light.
• It supports healthy skin and normal immune function.

• Night blindness
• A higher risk of infections, especially in the throat, chest, and abdomen
• Follicular hyperkeratosis, leading to dry, bumpy skin.
• Fertility issues
• Delayed growth in children
• Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include dry skin, joint pain, vomiting, headaches, confusion.

• If you take too much of Vitamin A, it can lead to birth defects, abnormalities of the liver and disorders of the central nervous system.
• It can also decrease bone mineral density, leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
• This is because an excess of Vitamin A suppresses the building up of bones and increases its breakdown.
• The rate of calcium absorption by Vitamin D can also get affected due to excess of Vitamin A. Therefore, it is advised to use Vitamin A only as directed by your doctor.
• Interactions. Vitamin A supplements may interact with some birth control pills, blood thinners (Coumadin), acne medicines (isotretinoin), cancer treatments, and many other drugs.
• People who drink heavily or have kidney or liver disease shouldn’t take vitamin A supplements without talking to a doctor.

• Lycopene is a carotenoid antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals in the body.

• Lycopene is a natural antioxidant found in tomatoes and other red fruits.
• It helps protect cells from oxidative damage and supports overall well-being.

Discoloration of the skin - Lycopenemia

•  Avoid if pregnant
•  It might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using lycopene supplements at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
•  Those taking medication for low blood pressure should not take lycopene.