1. Necessary for the formation and maintenance of collagen, a protein that is the basis for connective tissue throughout the body.

2. Vital for the maintenance of bones, capillaries, gums, and teeth.

3. Essential in reducing tissue damage caused by increased free-radical damage and disease.

4. Prevents the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines by inhibiting their conversion from nitrites.

5. Assists in regulating cholesterol metabolism in the liver and in removing cholesterol deposits from arterial walls.

6. Required to allow the immune system to operate properly.

7. Aids in the metabolization of folic acid, regulates the uptake of iron, and is required for the conversion of tyrosine and phenylalanine into noradrenaline.

8. Needed for the conversion of tryptophan into seratonin, which is a hormone that regulates sleep and pain control.