What Is Ascorbyl Palmitate?

Ascorbyl palmitate was first created by Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Laureate from Portland, Oregon. This combination of fatty acids and vitamin C has a variety of applications and can be found in everything from potato chips to lip gloss. While the extent of ascorbyl palmitate's usefulness is still being investigated, its solubility in both fat and water makes it an excellent preparation through which the body can absorb vitamin C.

Chemistry

• Ascorbyl palmitate is formed by combining vitamin C (ascorbic acid) with palmitic acid. Palmitic acid is the most commonly occurring fatty acid in nature, and it can be derived from almost any animal or vegetable fat. The combination of these two elements results in a molecule that is both water- and fat-soluble. This makes ascorbyl palmitate an amphipathic molecule, which means that the molecule can permeate and integrate itself into cell membranes.

Food Uses

• Ascorbyl palmitate is soluble in fat and water, so its uses are extremely varied. Ascorbyl palmitate can be found in foods as a preservative. Restaurants may choose to fry their food in oils that have been fortified with ascorbyl palmitate because it keeps the oil from burning and food from overcooking. Potato chips are usually fried in oils that contain ascorbyl palmitate; the additive keeps the product fresher for longer periods of time. Ascorbyl palmitate is also used to prolong the freshness of dried and powdered milk products.

Health and Beauty Uses

• Ascorbyl palmitate integrates itself into cell membranes of human red blood cells, allowing it to neutralize free radicals that can damage cellular structure. Vitamin C has also been shown to stimulate the growth of fresh collagen, which gives skin elasticity and firmness. Both of these properties make ascorbyl palmitate extremely attractive to manufacturers of health and beauty products. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, however, the efficacy of ascorbyl palmitate as a cell membrane protector has been shown only in laboratory tests. On the labels of specific cosmetics, ascorbyl palmitate is often listed as vitamin C. Ascorbyl palmitate is also sold in tablet, powder and liquid forms as a vitamin supplement. Because the vitamin C is combined with a fatty acid, ascorbyl palmitate is more easily absorbed by the body than a straight ascorbic acid supplement.

Health Benefits and Concerns

• Ascorbyl palmitate has been shown, in the proper doses and combinations, to combat and repair some of the effects of atherosclerotic heart disease. Vitamin C alone is necessary to protect bones from sustained damage. While there are few contra-indications for ascorbyl palmitate, those with specific food allergies should check the label of their products to determine the origin of the palmitic acid. Derived primarily from plant sources, certain palmitic acids might trigger an allergic reaction in those who are extremely sensitive to foods like corn and soy.