Vitamin C

Single-ingredient vitamin C reference formula at 1,000 mg per serving, developed as a tablet, capsule or powder.

Vitamin C is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient vitamin C product at a default amount of 1,000 mg. The formula carries L-ascorbic acid as the only active ingredient, so the development work centers on handling a high-load active: tablet size, capsule count per serving, moisture protection and taste in powders.

The 1,000 mg default sits beside a 500 mg option that uses the same formula structure. Tablet is the lead format because a daily gram-level amount fits a single compressed unit, and the capsule and powder versions share the same raw material with different excipient systems.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Vitamin C1000 mg (default amount)L-ascorbic acid, USP or equivalent grade, as a free-flowing or granulated powder; specification 1,000 mg vitamin C per serving on an ascorbic acid basisBuffered ascorbate (sodium or calcium ascorbate), with the input calculated on an ascorbic acid basis; natural-source Acerola Cherry Extract 17–25% Natural Vitamin C or Camu Camu Extract 10–25% Natural Vitamin C, with the input set from the extract’s vitamin C content

Amounts are stated as mg of vitamin C on an ascorbic acid basis (L-ascorbic acid, C6H8O6, 176.12 g/mol; PubChem CID 54670067). Ascorbic acid is the free acid, so no salt-to-active conversion applies to the lead form; a buffered ascorbate or an extract is calculated back to the same ascorbic acid amount.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around daily vitamin C intake and immune and respiratory nutrition. Vitamin C is included as the single active so that the amount, the form and the excipient system can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Daily vitamin C intakeVitamin CIncluded as an essential micronutrient and electron donor with antioxidant and enzyme-cofactor roles [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Immune nutritionVitamin CPositioned around immune nutrition because vitamin C contributes to several cellular functions of the immune system, and deficiency is linked to impaired immunity [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Common cold outcomesVitamin CA Cochrane review found that regular supplementation did not reduce how often colds occur in the general population, while regular-supplementation trials showed shorter colds [2]. Evidence: Mixed

The design keeps one active and one clear amount per serving. The amounts considered (250 to 2000 mg) are higher than the 100–200 mg per day that [1] describes as giving adequate to saturating plasma levels, so the tier is a decision for the brand and its target market.

Available Formats

Three formats can be developed from this reference formula. Bottle and carton counts are suggestions that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Tablet1 tablet1000 mg60 or 100 tabletsCellulose, hypromellose, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxideLead format; one compressed unit per serving
Capsule2 capsules1000 mg120 capsules (60 servings)Flow agent, lubricantHigh-load fill split over two capsules
Powder1 stick pack1000 mg30 stick packsDiluent, acidulant, sweetener, flavorDrink-mix format with taste work

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled amount divided by the assumed assay of the raw material, taken at 100% ascorbic acid, so 1000 mg needs 1000 mg of raw material per serving.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Tablet1000 mg1300 mg tablet weight300 mgCompression behavior, hardness, disintegration, content assay
Capsule500 mg per capsule (2 per serving)600 mg per capsule100 mg per capsuleFill weight variation, flow, content assay
Powder1000 mg per stick4000 mg per stick3000 mgDissolution, taste, moisture pickup, content assay

Gummy and chewable versions are separate projects, because a gram-level active load changes the gummy matrix and the acidity balance.

Formulation Considerations

High active load. At 1000 mg and a design tablet weight of 1300 mg, the active is most of the tablet. Compression behavior and the binder level decide whether a single tablet of workable size is possible, and the same load is why the capsule version splits the amount over two capsules.
Moisture and oxidation. Ascorbic acid is sensitive to moisture and air, so the raw material grade, packaging and humidity control during blending are set early. Color change and potency loss over shelf life are checked in stability work.
Acidity and taste. Ascorbic acid is acidic and sour. In a stick-pack powder the acidulant, sweetener and flavor have to be balanced around the active, and buffered ascorbate is the alternative when the brand wants a milder taste.
Amount tier and evidence. Amounts of 250 to 2000 mg sit above the 100–200 mg per day that a review describes as giving adequate to saturating plasma levels [1]. The chosen tier is therefore a brand and market decision, and the dose limit for each sales market is reviewed before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount per serving, the ascorbic acid form, the format and the taste system.

ParameterRangeNote
Amount per serving250, 500, 1000 or 2000 mgOptions for the brand; tablet weight or capsule count changes with the tier
Vitamin C formAscorbic acid, buffered ascorbate or natural-source extractInput is recalculated to the ascorbic acid amount; extracts add weight
FormatTablet, capsule or stick-pack powderGummy and chewable are separate projects
Pack size30 to 120 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsZinc, calcium, iron, rose hipsEach addition changes the blend and the stability plan

The pilot run confirms compression behavior and hardness of the high-load blend, moisture and color stability of the ascorbic acid, and the content assay of the first units against the labeled 1000 mg.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderOrange, lemon, mixed berryCitrus and berry profiles sit well with the acidity of ascorbic acid

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (1000 mg on the label of CF001005; example DSLD labels 6969, 7147, 7495). The label names the ingredient as vitamin C; L-ascorbic acid is set as the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationL-ascorbic acid, 1000 mg vitamin C per serving on an ascorbic acid basis; purity and assay limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(1):CD000980. DOI · PubMed

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