Normal metabolism ensures the adequate use of nutrients. Enzymes are the most important mediators of metabolism. Vitamin C, also identified as L-ascorbic acid (or L-ascorbate), is an important enzyme cofactor, playing other significant physiological roles in the human organism. During evolution, a few species, including the Homo sapiens, lacked L-gulonolactone oxidase (recommended name), L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (a synonym), i.e., the enzyme that catalyzes the last step of vitamin C biosynthesis. Hereafter, vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for humans and its deficiency (or scurvy) may be fatal. Indeed, scurvy has plagued humankind since prehistoric times. Nevertheless, the industry began producing vitamin C in the early 1930s. Scientific interest in vitamin C became popular thanks to the eminent American chemist Linus Carl Pauling (1901-1994), who helped to spread the vitamin benefits worldwide, especially toward viral infections (e.g., common cold and flu). The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed the interest in vitamin C, opening new perspectives in the vitamin research and potential therapeutic uses. New conceptual elements have emerged, allowing the elucidation of points related to the evolution, prehistory, and history of vitamin C, and motivating the present review article.

ascorbic acid, evolution, history, humans, prehistory, pseudogenes, scurvy