Why Is It Important for You as a Consumer to Know

question 31

Essay

Why is it important for you as a consumer to know whether a product you find on the shelf in your pharmacy is being sold as an OTC drug or as a dietary supplement?

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Definitions:

Vitamin C

A water-soluble vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid, important for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues and is involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, and immune system support.

Wound Healing

A complex process involving the repair of skin and tissues after injury, through stages that include clotting, inflammation, tissue growth, and remodeling.

Vitamin Deficiency

A state where the body lacks sufficient amounts of vitamins essential for optimal health and function.

Citric Acid Cycle

A sequence of chemical processes that all aerobic life forms utilize to produce energy by oxidizing acetate, obtained from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, into carbon dioxide.