Erythorbic acid, an epimer of L-ascorbic acid, is used in the United States as a food additive. It was studied, that erythorbic acid enhanced of iron absorption and could play a major role in enhancing iron bioavailability from mixed diets that include foods preserved with erythorbic acid. In addition, was investigated if the erythorbic acid could influence on the metabolism of vitamin C in young women, and obtained results showed, that prolonged ingestion of erythorbic acid had no effect on vitamin C uptake or clearance from the body.

Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat soluble vitamin C ester. An ester is simply a compound formed by the combination of an organic acid and an alcohol – in this case it is ascorbic acid and palmitic acid (a fat – which is composed of fatty acids and glycerol - an alcohol). Therefore, ascorbyl palmitate is formed by the esterification of ascorbic acid with palmitic acid to form vitamin C ester. Ascorbyl palmitate is an amphipathic molecule, meaning one end is water-soluble and the other end is fat-soluble. This dual solubility allows it to be incorporated into cell membranes. When incorporated into the cell membranes of human red blood cells, ascorbyl palmitate has been found to protect them from oxidative damage and to protect alpha-tocopherol (a fat-soluble antioxidant) from oxidation by free radicals. Basically, the fat-soluble aspect of ascorbyl palmitate extends vitamin C free radical protection into the fat parts of the body. However, the protective effects of ascorbyl palmitate on cell membranes have only been demonstrated in the test tube (in vitro). Taking ascorbyl palmitate orally may not result in any significant incorporation into cell membranes because most of it appears to be hydrolyzed (broken apart into palmitate and ascorbic acid) in the human digestive tract before it is absorbed. The ascorbic acid released by the hydrolysis of ascorbyl palmitate appears to be as bioavailable as ascorbic acid alone. The presence of ascorbyl palmitate in oral supplements contributes to the ascorbic acid content of the supplement and probably helps protect fat-soluble antioxidants in the supplement. This is also true for food products. Ascorbyl palmitate is used to increase the shelf life of vegetable oils and potato chips. The role of vitamin C in promoting collagen synthesis and its antioxidant properties have generated interest in its use on the skin. Ascorbyl palmitate is frequently used in topical preparations because it is more stable than some aqueous (water-soluble) forms of vitamin C. It is also suggested that this form of vitamin C is better able to penetrate the skin and the thin membrane of cells (due to its dual solubility), which can then go on to help produce collagen and elastin.

Zilascorb (2H) is a deuterated derivative of benzylidene ascorbate. Its mechanism of action is reversible protein synthesis inhibition, and it was observed experimentally that deuterated compound is more effective than a non-deuterated form of a drug. Zilascorb(2H) has shown antitumor activity against human malignant melanoma grown as xenografts in nude mice. The effect was manifest only after prolonged daily treatment and was quickly reversible when treatment was stopped. Anticancer activity of zilascorb(2H) was assessed in clinical trials. The drug demonstrated efficacy both when administered as an intravenous infusion, and when administered in oral form. Development of zilascorb was discontinued in the late 1990s.

Furfural (also called 2-formylfuran, furan-2- aldehyde, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 2-furyl-methanal, pyromucic aldehyde, 2-furanaldehyde, 2-furancarbonal, carboxylic aldehyde, furan-2-carbaldehyde, furancarbonal, 2-furaldehyde, or 2-furfural), contains a heteroaromatic furan ring and an aldehyde functional group. Furfural was first isolated in 1832 by J.W. Döbereiner, and has been industrially produced since 1922. Today, furfural is used for multiple purposes, for example as a selective extraction agent (in the recovery of butadiene from oil steam cracking or in the refining of petroleum, diesel fuels, lubricants and vegetable oils), as a solvent (for anthracene or resins), as an agent for vulcanization, as a nematicide and fungicide, as a flavoring agent in a variety of food products and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and as a component of commercial herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, antiseptics, disinfectors, and rust removers. Furfural is also involved in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fragrances, flavors and resins (in this latter case, by condensation with phenol, formaldehyde, acetone, or urea, to produce thermosetting resins with extreme physical strength); as well as in other products such as household cleaners and detergents. Furfural occurs naturally in some fruits and vegetables. It can be formed in other foods during cooking, and is present in wood smoke. Furfural is an ingredient contained in many fragrances and flavours. It may be found in fragrances used in decorative cosmetics, fine fragrances, shampoos, toilet soaps and other toiletries, in flavours of oral care products as well as in non-cosmetic products such as household cleaners and detergents. Furfural in the in the fragrance compound is reported to be 0.036% or less. The European Commission received a submission from the European Flavour & Fragrance Association with data supporting the safe use of Furfural as a fragrance ingredient. The predominant pathway of metabolism of Furfural in humans is oxidation of the aldehyde to yield furoic acid, which may either conjugate with amino acids or condense with acetyl coenzyme A to produce the furanacrylic acid. Furfural is a carcinogen classified in EU as a Category 3 carcinogen. Furfural was tested for carcinogenicity by oral administration in one study in mice and one study in rats. In mice, it increased the incidence of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in males and of hepatocellular adenomas and forestomach papillomas in females. Male rats had a low incidence of cholangiocarcinomas, which occur rarely. In a two-stage assay on mouse skin, Furfural had weak initiating activity. On the basis of quantitative risk assessment it is concluded that Furfural at the maximum exposure stated by RIFM does not represent any significant cancer risk. However, the exposure should not be increased.