Vitamin C provides antioxidant activity and is intended to help normal, healthy collagen synthesis, capillary and blood vessel integrity, cartilage and bone development, immune function, and nerve impulse transmission. This product also contains Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Oxide to buffer the natural acidity of Vitamin C. This two-stage, timed release formula is designed to release half of the Vitamin C in this product rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 12 hours** which may help extend the availability of the Vitamin C to the body over a longer period of time.