Acerola

Mechanism

Acerola is among the most vitamin-C-rich known fruits and is marketed as a natural ascorbic acid source. Unlike humans or guinea pigs, the healthy horse synthesises vitamin C endogenously in the liver (L-gulonolactone oxidase pathway) on the order of several dozen grams per day; the maintenance requirement is thus considered self-covered. External supply is discussed only in special situations in which plasma levels fall or the antioxidant demand rises — for example during prolonged stress, transport, illness or in old age. Studies show that supplementation raises the plasma level in the short term but that endogenous synthesis can subsequently be temporarily throttled; continuous administration is therefore viewed critically. Robust equine efficacy data specifically on acerola are lacking.