Ascorbic acid is a substance that can exist in two forms. These
forms include D-ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid. They are made
up of the exact same components but differ slightly in the way
they are arranged. The D and L arrangements are known as
enantiomers and appear as mirror images of each other. While
enantiomers largely have the same chemical properties, they
interact with certain molecules differently. The D-ascorbic acid
does not have any significant physiological activity. It is
retained by the body to a lesser extent than its L counterpart
and the majority of the administered dose is excreted through
urine. It is also metabolized to carbon dioxide but also to a
lesser extent than L-ascorbic acid. Both versions of ascorbic
acid have antioxidant activity. Antioxidants prevent the
formation of free radicals which damage the body’s cells.
Another similarity is that the body cannot synthesize either
form. L-ascorbic acid, on the other hand, is commonly known as
vitamin C. This vitamin is vital to the n