Healthy circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Every cell relies on a steady supply of these essentials to support energy production, physical activity, heart health, and healthy aging.

One of the key substances involved in circulation is nitric oxide. This naturally produced molecule helps blood vessels relax, supporting blood flow throughout the body.

While vitamin C is best known for supporting immune health, it may also help support nitric oxide activity, blood vessel function, and the health of the inner blood vessels. In other words, vitamin C is a key player in supporting circulation and heart health.

Why Healthy Blood Vessels Matter

Your blood vessels form an extensive network that reaches every part of your body. They carry oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other important compounds to the tissues and organs that need them most.

Healthy blood vessels help keep circulation moving efficiently throughout the body. This steady flow of blood helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells while supporting overall health and wellness.

Lifestyle factors such as poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, smoking, chronic stress, and pollution may affect blood vessel function. For this reason, nutrition and other healthy lifestyle habits remain important for supporting circulation, blood vessel health, and long-term heart health.*

Nitric Oxide: A Small Molecule With a Big Job

Nitric oxide is a small molecule naturally produced by the human body that helps blood vessels relax and widen, and promotes healthy blood flow and circulation throughout the body, including the heart.

Nitric oxide is produced by the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels. Healthy endothelial function helps support blood vessel flexibility, circulation, and overall blood vessel health.

Researchers continue to study nitric oxide because of its role in circulation, exercise performance, heart health, and healthy aging.* Scientists continue to explore how nitric oxide supports blood flow and circulation and overall vascular function. Interest in nitric oxide has also led scientists to explore the nutrients and lifestyle habits that help support healthy nitric oxide activity and healthy blood flow.

Vitamin C Supports Circulation and Blood Vessel Health

Vitamin C is best known for supporting immune health, but it also plays important roles in circulation and blood vessel health. Research suggests vitamin C may help support nitric oxide activity and blood vessel function. Emerging research also suggests it may promote nitric oxide production, helping maintain healthy blood flow throughout the body.

Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, helping protect cells from the normal effects of oxidative stress caused by free radicals.* By supporting nitric oxide activity and healthy blood vessel function, vitamin C may help support healthy circulation and heart health.

In other words, getting enough vitamin C is one way to support the systems that help keep blood moving efficiently throughout the body.*

Everyday Habits Can Affect Circulation

Many aspects of modern life can place extra strain on blood vessels. Poor dietary habits, smoking, chronic stress, lack of exercise, poor sleep, and environmental exposures may affect circulation and blood vessel function. They may also influence nitric oxide activity and impact healthy blood flow.

Researchers continue to learn more about how daily habits influence blood vessel health. Regular physical activity, a nutrient-rich diet, quality sleep, stress management, and avoiding tobacco products may help support the endothelium, the delicate inner lining of blood vessels.

These same lifestyle habits also help support circulation, blood vessel function, and healthy blood flow throughout the body.

How to Maintain Healthy Vitamin C Levels

Because the body stores only small amounts of vitamin C, regular intake is important. Unlike some nutrients that can be stored for longer periods, vitamin C must be consumed consistently through food, supplements, or both.

Vitamin C is found naturally in foods such as citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 90 mg per day for adult men and 75 mg per day for adult women. People who smoke require additional vitamin C because smoking increases oxidative stress and vitamin C turnover in the body.

However, research suggests that many adults may not get enough vitamin C from their diets, particularly those who eat few fruits and vegetables. For some individuals, supplementation may be a convenient way to help meet daily vitamin C needs and maintain healthy vitamin C status as part of a healthy lifestyle.*

Maintaining Healthy Circulation for Life

Healthy circulation is something most people rarely think about, yet it plays a role in nearly every part of the body. From helping deliver oxygen and nutrients to supporting everyday movement and activity, healthy blood flow helps keep the body functioning at its best.*

Nutrition and lifestyle habits can help support this process over time. Along with regular physical activity, quality sleep, and a nutrient-rich diet, getting enough vitamin C may help support nitric oxide activity, NO production and bioavailability, healthy blood vessel function, and healthy circulation throughout life.*

Because nutrition and health needs vary from person to person, work with a qualified health-care practitioner when considering dietary supplements. A practitioner can help determine whether vitamin C supplementation or other products that support healthy nitric oxide (NO) production are appropriate for your individual health goals and nutritional needs.*

Key Takeaways

• Nitric oxide helps blood vessels relax, supporting healthy blood flow and circulation throughout the body.
• Vitamin C may help support nitric oxide activity, blood vessel function, and antioxidant activity.*
• Healthy blood vessels and healthy circulation help deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body.
• Good nutrition, regular physical activity, quality sleep, and other healthy habits support cardiovascular health.
• Vitamin C-rich foods such as citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts can help support healthy vitamin C status. Along with a healthy lifestyle, adequate vitamin C intake may also help support healthy circulation and blood vessel function.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.