Vitamin C: Panacea?
Perhaps the most underutilized nutrient, Vitamin C is not actually a vitamin at all. Produced in the livers of higher mammals such as goats and sheep, and in the kidneys of lower animals like fish and lizards, Vitamin C is truly a metabolic product derived from one of the sugar molecules. In our discussion we use the terms ascorbic acid and Vitamin C interchangeably. As highly evolved creatures as human beings are, it seems that we have lost the ability to produce perhaps one of the most important nutrients known to man. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is required in well over 400 known chemical reactions in the body in order for them to be carried out most efficiently. One of the most important ones is in the formation of the substance collagen. Collagen is the material that keeps us together and makes our skin and connective tissues more elastic and resilient.
What's the problem?
As hypothesized by Dr. Irwin stone in his book entitled The Healing Factor, some 50+ million years ago, when ape-like ancestors of ours lived an arboreal lifestyle (in trees), there was an abundance of citrus and ascorbic acid containing foodstuffs to provide the organisms with an adequate daily dose. It is believed that with the abundance of Vitamin C available, the organism no longer needed to tax its metabolism with the production of it. A crucial enzyme, L-Gulonolactone Oxidase, which is responsible for the conversion of the sugar molecule, had been mutated out of the genetic code..
All of the other organisms on the planet today who can produce Vitamin C have this enzyme. Only roughly 5 or 6 different types of creatures cannot produce it- humans, primates, guinea pigs, fruit bats, and some modern birds and fish. All others produce it in their livers and kidneys as mentioned above. Some physicians, such as Doctor Mary, recommend doses far greater than those that are usually given. These doses are based on the animal models in nature. If we look at one of these animals, a goat for instance, we will find that on any given day, just walking around, without stress, this animal will produce between 5-15 grams of ascorbic acid. If we average this out to 10 grams, this is the required dose that is recommended to aid the immune system in normal, optimal physical health. This same goat, if stressed, will produce 5-10 times its baseline levels of ascorbic acid. That is, it will produce, in its liver, between 50 and 100 grams, in response to the stresses. Without the enzyme, humans cannot provide their systems with the anti-oxidant protection that ascorbic acid was designed to provide. Back to the story.
As evolution pushed on, these organisms progressed towards a bi-pedal existence (walking on two feet). Since there was no longer a ready supply of life sustaining ascorbic acid, these organisms experienced seasonal fluctuations in health and sickness. During the spring and summer months there was an abundance of ascorbate rich food. On the contrary, during the winter months they experienced death, plague, and epidemics of infectious diseases. Perhaps the terrible plagues of the middle ages could be directly related to the lack of ascorbate in the diet during those times.
In more recent times, during the 17th and 18th centuries, thousands of apparently healthy young sailors died while on long voyages overseas from the disease scurvy, or a lack of ascorbic acid in their diet. Of note, credit should be give to the british naval surgeon Dr. James Lind, who while on a long voyage discovered that the juice of one half of a lime would prevent the terrible disease from occuring. This is the reason british sailors are referred to as "limeys".
In modern times credit should be given to men such as Albert Sczent-Gyorgi, who discovered the molecular structure of ascorbic acid, Irwin Stone, who in working closely with Sczent-Gyorgi, performed many experiments and wrote several books and articles on the subject, and Frederick Klenner, a practicing physician from North Carolina who pioneered the use of ascorbic acid in a clinical setting. Dr. Klenner successfully treated thousands of patients with every diagnosis imaginable with mega-doses of C. Also of note is Dr. Robert Cathcart who developed the concept of bowel tolerance in oral consumption of C as well as the use of high dose C therapy in serious infections such as aids, pneumonia and influenza.
Bowel tolerance dosing.
The concept of bowel tolerance dosing with Vitamin C is an important one as it can greatly reduce the severity and strength of many if not all acute disease processes. The procedure is as follows: Pure ascorbic acid powder is preferred, but if patients have gastrointestinal problems, buffered powder can be used. In general, 1 level teaspoon of powder equals 4000mg. At the onset of symptoms patients will start taking 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Vitamin C powder in juice or water every hour on the hour until they experience loose bowels. In a healthy individual, the tolerance level may only be 10 to 15 grams, as the body has less stress and the requirement is much lower. However, in the stressed individual, patients are frequently amazed at the amount of C they can consume before loose bowels occur. This is easy to understand as the requirements increase tremendously in illness.
Side effects???????
There are many unsubstantiated claims about Vitamin C ranging from causing kidney stones to helping cancer grow. We can tell you- irrefutably- that this is one of the greatest lies in medicine. If Vitamin C caused stones, every emergency room in the Gulf South would have standing room only for patients writhing in pain from excess C consumption and their stones. The walls of the clinic would be lined with buckets full of stones. This is simply not the case. In fact, with over 30 billion milligrams given and about 1 million milligrams per day, we continue to prove this claim incorrect. It is amazing how inadequate and improper research can skew the public eye. There are, however, some things to watch out for.
Vitamin C can cause an increase in the absorption of iron. This can be good and bad. People who are iron deficient, for whatever reason, can benefit from its use. There are some patients who have a disease called hemochromatosis with excess iron in their bodies. These people may be affected by excess Vitamin C, so they must pay attention to too much use of it. Nonetheless, they can safely take several thousand milligrams without fear. Another group of patients, usually of Mediterranean descent, may have something called Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency (aka: G6PD). G6PD deficiency patients may develop breakdown of their red blood cells, hemolysis, if exceptionally large doses of Vitamin C are given. In the last thirty years we have seen 2 or 3 of these cases, and these patients were in the hospital receiving large doses intravenously. Again, these patients may take several thousand milligrams orally with impunity. Finally, some patients may test positive on the stool occult blood test and should refrain from large doses when this testing is to be done.
Proper dosages
As mentioned above, we feel that all humans require around 10,000mg (10 grams) per day. This is easily acquired if taken in divided doses. We prefer the powdered ascorbic acid and if 1 teaspoon is taken in juice or water twice a day, it is easy to approach the level. Remember, everyone is different. Some may not need as much and some may require more. Also remember that if gastrointestinal problems occur, you may need a buffered variety that is not as acidic.
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