best form of vitamin C
best form of vitamin C
Ester-C is a patented, pH-neutral form of vitamin C made primarily of calcium ascorbate plus vitamin C metabolites, while ascorbic acid is pure, standard vitamin C used in most scientific research. Ester-C may be gentler on the stomach, but claims of superior absorption and retention are only weakly supported by published studies, some of which found no difference. This guide compares both forms on evidence, tolerability, cost, and use cases so you can choose the right vitamin C supplement.