Vitamin C, also known as Ascorbic
Acid or ascorbate, is a carbohydrate closely related to and
derived from the glucose molecule. Glucose as we know is a
simple sugar that is used by most living organisms as a fuel
for cellular energy. Vitamin C remains one of the most
important nutrients we as humans rely on for good health.
Vitamin C was first identified by a Hungarian scientist named
Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, MD, PhD in 1926, while conducting
research on the chemical process that causes fruits and
vegetables to turn brown. He succeeded in isolating a white
crystalline substance from the adrenal gland of cows, which he
referred to as Cx11. He later isolated these same crystals
from the juice of potatoes and cabbages and renamed it
hexuronic acid. Finally, in 1932 after producing the first
pure crystals of vitamin C he renamed it Ascorbic Acid in
recognition of its role in preventing scurvy. The Latin word,
ascorbic means "without scurvy". Scurvy results in
defective collagen synthesis leads to defective dentine
formation, hemorrhaging into the gums, and loss of teeth.
Hemorrhaging is a hallmark feature of scurvy and can occur in
any organ. Hair follicles are one of the common sites of
cutaneous bleeding. Bony changes are usually observed in the
very young.
Scurvy was described by the Egyptians as early as 1500 BC in
the Ebers papyrus. It struck the crew of Magellan's around the
world journey in 1519-22 and a British report in 1600
indicated that in the previous 20 years some 10,000 mariners
had been destroyed by the disease. In 1747 as the HMS
Salisbury sailed from England to the Plymouth Colony, James
Lind the ship's physician performed a simple experiment to
determine the cause of this disease. Seafarers were often
susceptible due to poor dietary intake of Vitamin C. The
ingestion of limes and oranges saved sailors from scurvy.
Consequently, as a result British sailors during WWII were
often referred to as limies for their consumption of this
fruit.
Unfortunately, humans do not possess the ability to
manufacture their own Vitamin C. And by definition a vitamin
is a substance necessary for survival that must be taken in
from the outside (ingested exogenously). Plants and animals
possess an enzyme called gluconolactone oxidase (GLO) that
allows them to readily convert glucose into Vitamin C humans
have somehow lost the ability to do what virtually every other
life form on earth can do with ease during our evolutionary
development by losing the ability to make GLO. Actually GLO is
the 4th enzyme in the pathway to converting glucose to Vitamin
C. Only a few mammals do not make this vitamin and they are
besides our species, the gorillas, guinea pigs and the fruit
bats. Why have these four mammalian species lost this ability
is poorly understood.
The reasons why Vitamin C is important are many. It offers
Antioxidant protection. Vitamin C protects us from the ravages
of free radical damage that can destroy cell membranes, damage
DNA and lead to the development of degenerative diseases,
cancer and pre- mature aging. In addition to helping the body
utilize folic acid, Vitamin C helps in the recycling process
of other anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10, alpha
Lipoic Acid and Glutathione. Antioxidants are the key to
maintaining health and longevity. They are at the root of all
degenerative diseases.
Vitamin C is crucial in Collagen production. Vitamin C helps
manufacture collagen, the basic cellular "cement"
that keeps muscles, tendons, bones, teeth, skin and arteries
healthy and strong and aids in the repair of blood vessels and
broken bones. The amino acids Lysine, Glycine, Proline when
combined with Vitamin C makes collagen. Zinc is an important
mineral in this pathway as well. So without adequate dietary
intake of Vitamin C and Zinc skin and tissue repair is
hindered.
Vitamin C is important in Cardiovascular support. Vitamin C
benefits heart conditions of all kinds. It has been found to
normalize blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and repairing
arterial walls. In fact, there are researchers that believe
cardiovascular disease is in reality the early stages of
scurvy and can be prevented with a vitamin protocol centering
on high doses of Vitamin C. This was the belief of two time
Nobel Prize laureate Linus Pauling. Dr. Pauling dedicated much
of his lives work to research on Vitamin C. It does not allow
Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-Cholesterol) to oxidize. It is
the oxidation of this "bad" cholesterol that
produces plaques on our artery walls and results in coronary
artery disease. Vitamin C's effects on the cardiovascular
health may soon be revealed to play a bigger role than some
very powerful drugs the medical establishment is currently
using as first line medication.
The Immune System is not to be overlooked, for ascorbic acid
plays a major role. Vitamin C aids white blood cells that
attack and destroy everything from cancer cells, viruses,
bacteria, to parasites of all kinds. It also controls the
release of histamine, a sometimes undesirable side effect of
our immune system at work. So as we enter the "cold"
season, we can protect ourselves from those nasty
coronaviruses and flu viruses with a little extra Vitamin C.
Most nutritionally minded physicians who recommend large doses
(much greater than the RDA) of Vitamin C rely on animal models
that produce their own Vitamin C.
For example, a goat will on an average day will produce
between 5 and 15 grams of V-C. Interestingly, that same goat,
if under stressed, will produce 5 - 10 times its baseline
levels of ascorbic acid. Evolution has conditioned the goat to
increase production in times of need.
Since we lack the GLO enzyme we cannot provide our systems
with the antioxidant protection that Vitamin C was designed to
provide. We have no way of self-regulation. Antioxidant
experts from researcher Linus Pauling to Cellular Health
author Dr. Matthias Rath (who discovered the Lp(a) risk factor
for heart disease) recommend a dosage of up to 10 grams a day
to fully support and aid the immune system in normal, optimal
physical health. Doses in excess of 4 grams (4000 mg) daily
should first be discussed with your physician.
By using the bowel tolerance test (or Ascobic Acid Flush test)
everyone can determine his or her own necessary level of
Vitamin C. Start by taking one gram of vitamin C on day one
and increasing the dosage by an additional gram each day
thereafter until a soft or loose stool is experienced. Then
simply scale back by taking 75% of the max dose to arrive at
your dosage level. This amount is different for each
individual and may change depending on the health and stress
of that person. If you are stressed by some sort of acute
illness such as a cold, conducting the same test rapidly can
be achieved by increasing the dose of Vitamin C by one gram
every hour until bowel tolerance is reached. Those patient
with Iron metabolism problems such as Hemochromatosis or a
blood disorder called Thalassemia need to exert caution for
Vitamin C greatly increases iron absorption and this is
harmful in these individuals.
Conversely high doses of Vitamin C can hinder the absorption
of Ginseng if taken together. High dose Vitamin C increases
serum levels in the concomitant use of the drug Acetaminophen
(Tylenol). High levels of Tylenol especially in an individual
with liver disease can be harmful. There are reports that high
dose Vitamin C inhibits effect of statin (HMG-CoA reductase)
drugs such as Zocor, Mevacor and Lipitor. These drugs are used
to lower cholesterol. High dose Vitamin C may also reduce the
blood thinning effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and that is
important for those people taking that medication to be aware.
Before embarking on high dose Vitamin C usage, it is important
to determine your needs and the correct preparations, dosing
schedule and adjunct supplements that need to be taken.
Therefore consultation with a nutritionally minded physician
is imperative.
� 2003
JP Saleeby, MD is medical director of SLI, and integrative
medical practice dedicated to nutritional medicine,
acupuncture and other complementary therapies in addition to
traditional allopathic medicine. He can be reached for comment
at jpsaleeby@aol.com.
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