How is vitamin C related to glucose?

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A biochemical flowchart shows the metabolic pathways for carbohydrate utilization, including glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The diagram traces the conversion of glucose, fructose, and glycerol through various intermediates, leading to energy production, carbon dioxide release, and biosynthesis of amino acids and porphyrins. Key steps and branches are labeled, with colored boxes highlighting biosynthetic outputs. — Carbohydrate Pathways for the utilization of carbohydrates.

Vitamin C is a six-carbon organic compound that is chemically classified as a carbohydrate-like substance because of its close structural relationship to carbohydrates.1

While many mammals are capable of synthesizing vitamin C from glucose, humans and certain other primates have lost this ability due to the lack of a specific enzyme required for its production. Consequently, humans must acquire this essential nutrient through their diet to support vital biological functions, such as the synthesis of collagen and the maintenance of the immune system.1