How to Store Sodium Ascorbate

Sodium ascorbate is a type of vitamin C supplement. It can be injected as a liquid into the body, or you can eat it in tablet or pill form. It may be given as an injection to people who are dangerously low in vitamin C. It can also be used as an alternative remedy for a variety of diseases. Sodium ascorbate is also commonly used as a food preservative, since it prevents the formation of carcinogenic free radicals.

Things You'll Need

• Refrigerator

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Instructions

• 1

  Store the vial of injectable sodium ascorbate or the container of pills in the refrigerator at a temperature between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. High heat begins to deteriorate the pills, a process called "deliquesce" in which the vitamin C content slowly gets destroyed.

• 2

  Do not freeze the vial or pills. Freezing causes chemical changes in the vitamins that are irreversible. Even after they are thawed, the damage has already been done.

• 3

  Keep the vial and pills away from light, moist areas and heat. If stored at room temperature or in humidity above 85 percent, sodium ascorbate starts to deteriorate. The vitamins start to dissolve, and when they are properly stored again, they solidify and are not as potent as they once were.

• 4

  Keep the vial and pills away from pets and children. Any amount over the recommended dosage (between 40 and 125 mg, depending on weight and age) may cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn and kidney stones in people and animals.

• 5

  Use the sodium ascorbate within two years if it is properly stored. If you consume the vitamins past two years, the vitamin content has probably deteriorated.

• 6

  Call your waste disposal company and inquire about medication disposal. Some areas have a facility for disposing of pharmaceuticals. Otherwise, dump the vitamins in a garbage bag and mix them with used coffee grounds or used kitty litter. Seal the bag up tight and dispose of the vitamins with your regular garbage pickup.