Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin. It occurs as a white or slightly yellow crystal or powder with a slight acidic taste. Ascorbic acid is an electron donor, and this property accounts for all its known functions. As an electron donor, ascorbic acid is a potent water-soluble antioxidant in humans. Ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant under physiologic conditions exhibiting a cross over role as a pro-oxidant in pathological conditions. Oxidized ascorbic acid (dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) directly inhibits IkappaBalpha kinase beta (IKKbeta) and IKKalpha enzymatic activity in vitro, whereas ascorbic acid did not have this effect. These findings define a function for vitamin C in signal transduction other than as an antioxidant and mechanistically illuminate how vitamin C down-modulates NF-kappaB signaling. Vitamin C is recommended for the prevention and treatment of scurvy. Its parenteral administration is desirable for patients with an acute deficiency or for those whose absorption of orally ingested ascorbic acid (vitamin c) is uncertain. Symptoms of mild deficiency may include faulty bone and tooth development, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and loosened teeth. Febrile states, chronic illness, and infection (pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, sinusitis, rheumatic fever, etc.) increase the need for ascorbic acid (vitamin c). Hemovascular disorders, burns, delayed fracture and wound healing are indications for an increase in the daily intake.

Calcium lactate is the salt that consists of two lactate anions for each calcium cation (Ca2+); this salt is used as a calcium supplement to treat hypocalcemia. However, as a source of free calcium, this salt is less convenient than calcium citrate. Calcium lactate inhalation powder also called as PUR118 participated in phase I clinical trials to determine whether this formulation was safe and tolerable in a population of subjects with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). PUR118 also was used in another clinical trials to evaluate its effect on ozone-induced airway Inflammation in healthy normal volunteers in case of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The obtained results revealed that PUR118 reduced the severity of acute exacerbations in COPD and CF and had the beneficial impacts on mortality, morbidity, and quality of life in affected individuals. However, both studies were discontinued.