Vitamin C is a water-soluble essential vitamin that is abundantly found in all fruits and vegetables. This vitamin participates in several important biochemical reactions in your body, including collagen generation, fatty-acid metabolism and neurotransmitter creation. This vitamin is also a well known antioxidant. Vitamin C can help you reduce muscle soreness in two ways. 1  Lactic acid removal: During or immediately after your exercise, your muscles have excessive amounts of lactic acid and metabolic wastes built up from the exertion.