Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin C (ascorbate) has some scientific basis for its use in supporting or preventing bruising, although the evidence is not robust. Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a structural protein necessary for the integrity of blood vessel walls. Deficiency in vitamin C (as seen in scurvy) leads to fragile capillaries and an increased tendency to bruise, which is resolved by vitamin C supplementation. Therefore, in individuals with a vitamin C deficiency, supplementation can clearly help prevent or reduce bruising. In people with normal vitamin C levels, however, evidence supporting the use of vitamin C supplements to prevent or treat bruising is limited. A few small studies and case reports suggest that vitamin C supplementation may reduce bruising in individuals with unexplained or excessive bruising, particularly if there is an underlying mild deficiency. However, large, well-controlled clinical trials in the general population are lacking. Guidelines do not generally recommend vitamin C supplementation solely for bruise prevention in healthy individuals. Nonetheless, because vitamin C is important for vascular health, it is sometimes used empirically in patients with easy bruising, especially if dietary intake is suspected to be low. In summary, there is modest scientific rationale for using vitamin C to support bruise prevention, mainly in the context of deficiency, but evidence for benefit in the general population is weak.

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