Ultima-C is associated with UNO Premier Philippines International Corp., a Philippine company that markets health, food, beverage, and cosmetic products. The company’s website identifies Sodium Ascorbate (Ultima-C) among its registered drug products.

The brand name UNO ULTIMA-C was published in the Philippine Intellectual Property Office’s trademark gazette. The application was filed on 18 July 2022 by UNO Premier Philippines International Corp., with goods listed under Class 5, including medicines, non-prescription medicines, and human vitamins [1].

The product has subsequently appeared widely in Philippine online retail channels, where it is generally sold as Ultima-C, UNO Ultima-C, or 1st Health Ultima-C.

The defining feature of Ultima-C is its use of sodium ascorbate. Sodium ascorbate is a mineral salt of ascorbic acid in which vitamin C is present as the ascorbate component while sodium acts as the counter-ion. Because it is a buffered form, sodium ascorbate is less acidic than pure ascorbic acid.

The manufacturer’s current product page describes the product as Ascorbic Acid (as Sodium Ascorbate) Ultima-C 500 mg Capsule, noting that sodium ascorbate is intended to reduce the acidity associated with vitamin C supplementation.

Active ingredient

Sodium ascorbate — 500 mg per capsule is the formulation specified on the manufacturer’s product page. It is important to note that 500 mg of sodium ascorbate is not equivalent to 500 mg of pure vitamin C. Sodium ascorbate is approximately 89% vitamin C by mass; therefore, 500 mg of sodium ascorbate corresponds to roughly 445 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent, with the remainder largely representing sodium.

Some marketplace listings describe the product as containing 562.43 mg sodium ascorbate per capsule. Consumers are advised to check the actual label of the specific package they are purchasing rather than assuming all Ultima-C variants have identical specifications.

Sodium ascorbate is one of several forms in which vitamin C can be supplied. While ordinary ascorbic acid is acidic, sodium ascorbate combines ascorbate with sodium to produce a buffered compound with a less acidic character. This chemical basis supports Ultima-C’s marketing as an “alkaline”, “non-acidic”, or lower-acidity vitamin C product, descriptions frequently used in Philippine retail listings.

However, “non-acidic” does not imply fundamentally different vitamin C biology; sodium ascorbate ultimately supplies vitamin C (ascorbate) to the body.

Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin involved in numerous physiological processes. Its established roles include:

• Supporting normal immune-system function
• Acting as an antioxidant
• Supporting collagen synthesis
• Contributing to normal wound healing
• Supporting absorption of non-heme iron
• Helping maintain normal connective tissue and blood-vessel function

The manufacturer specifically describes Ultima-C as a vitamin C product and highlights antioxidant and immune-system functions. It is best understood as a vitamin C supplement rather than a treatment for infections or other diseases.

Ultima-C’s principal marketing distinction is its sodium-ascorbate formulation. The brand emphasizes that sodium ascorbate has lower acidity, presenting this as an advantage for vitamin C supplementation.

In Philippine e-commerce, the product is frequently marketed using terms such as:

• “Non-acidic Vitamin C”
• “Alkaline Vitamin C”
• “Sodium Ascorbate”
• “Immune support”
• “Antioxidant”
• “For kids and adults”

Some sellers additionally market Ultima-C as “pampataba” or as a product that increases appetite or weight. While these claims appear in marketplace listings, they should not automatically be treated as established effects of vitamin C or sodium ascorbate.

The manufacturer’s current product page provides the following direction: Take one capsule once a day, or as prescribed by a healthcare professional.

Other product materials and marketplace listings have historically described different dosing instructions, including one to three capsules daily. Because formulations and packaging can change, the specific label on the current product and advice from a healthcare professional should take precedence over older online descriptions.

Ultima-C has been sold in multiple capsule counts, including 30, 50, 60, and 100-capsule configurations, depending on the packaging and seller. The manufacturer’s product information identifies a 100-capsule box in its product materials, while its online product page presents the 500-mg capsule formulation.

Due to the volume of third-party marketplace listings, there can be substantial differences in price and packaging between sellers. Buyers are advised to verify the manufacturer, registration information, capsule count, and packaging before purchasing.

UNO Premier’s resource page lists a License to Operate Drug, a Drug Product FDA Registration, and Sodium Ascorbate (Ultima-C) among its registered drug products. These are displayed on the company’s official website.

Additionally, the Philippine Intellectual Property Office has recorded the UNO ULTIMA-C trademark application by UNO Premier Philippines International Corp. for Class 5 goods [1].

It is important to note that FDA registration does not mean that every health claim made by an online seller is medically proven. Product registration and evidence for individual therapeutic claims are separate regulatory questions.

Vitamin C is generally well tolerated at appropriate doses, but taking large amounts can cause gastrointestinal effects such as stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.

Sodium ascorbate also supplies sodium, which may be relevant for individuals who have been advised to restrict their sodium intake. People with particular medical conditions, those taking medications, pregnant individuals, or anyone considering high-dose supplementation should consult a healthcare professional.

Ultima-C is not a different vitamin from vitamin C; its main formulation distinction is the chemical form in which vitamin C is delivered.

Ultima-C occupies a relatively accessible segment of the Philippine vitamin and supplement market. Its presence on marketplaces such as Shopee is substantial, with numerous listings for 10-, 30-, 50-, 60-, and 100-capsule packages.

The brand’s positioning can be summarized as affordable vitamin C combined with a sodium-ascorbate formulation and lower-acidity positioning for everyday supplementation. Its “non-acidic” identity differentiates it from conventional vitamin C products based solely on ascorbic acid.

In the Philippines, “Ultima C” and “Ultima-C” generally refer to the sodium-ascorbate vitamin C product associated with UNO Premier or 1st Health. However, marketplace listings can be inconsistent and sometimes use the name for products whose labeling should be independently verified. Consequently, the manufacturer and FDA registration information on the physical package are more reliable for identifying an authentic or current formulation than a marketplace title alone.

1. Intellectual Property Center, 28 Upper McKinley Rd.