I'd like to buy a C, Pat.

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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

 

 

I'd like to buy a C, Pat.

Mon, 13 Dec 2004 09:25:39 -0500

 

I'd like to buy a C, Pat.

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

 

December 13, 2004

 

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Dear Reader,

 

Around this time of year I always get questions about vitamin

C from friends, family and, of course, HSI members. It's no

secret that an ample daily intake of vitamin C may act as a

preventive against the common cold while also reducing the

duration of symptoms once a cold has set in. But how much

vitamin C should be taken, and what form of the vitamin is

most effective?

 

Here's a question from a member named Gary: " We saw a

naturopathic doctor who promotes giving vitamin C in high

dose intravenously. He says that much more is effectively

absorbed since all the dosage is in the bloodstream. Is this

safe and does he have a point? "

 

This question is tailor-made for HSI Panelist Allan Spreen,

M.D., so I asked Dr. Spreen to field this one, and here's his

response:

 

" Sometimes doses are needed that go beyond the intestinal

tract's ability to absorb. There is a point called 'bowel

tolerance' at which no further ingested doses of vitamin C are

useful (other than to flush out the intestinal tract, since bowel

tolerance levels cause diarrhea). Bypassing this route by

using intravenous access can permit far higher absorption of

vitamin C. Depending on the problem, such a technique can

be very useful. "

 

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The " C " list

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For those of us who don't need to resort to using intravenous

vitamin C, there are still several different forms of

supplementary C to choose from. Here's Dr. Spreen's quick

rundown of those forms:

 

* ASCORBIC ACID: This is the standard form of vitamin C.

Calcium ascorbate is one of the salt forms of the nutrient (as

opposed to the acid form). It is usually synthetic, as are other

forms, such as sodium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, etc.

It tends to be bitter, while ascorbic acid is sour.

 

* NATURAL vs. SYNTHETIC: The synthetic vitamin C

molecule is chemically identical to natural forms. The

difference arises in other nutrients that accompany the C,

such as bioflavonoids, which make the C more effective.

That's not to say that I don't prefer natural; it's just that it's

very hard to come by, and extremely expensive. So the

chances of high doses of C (like 1000 milligram capsules)

being all-natural are low. One possibility, however, would be

Sago Palm source vitamin C, which is considered a lower

risk for those who are extremely allergic.

 

* ROSE HIPS: This natural form of vitamin C is very

expensive, so nobody sells it exclusively (to my knowledge).

Manufacturers put a little in with the synthetic source for

marketing purposes. In its natural state, meaning mixed by

Mother Nature with attending bioflavonoid fractions, there's

little question (to those who treat with it regularly) that less

amount of rose hips is needed for an equivalent biological

action.

 

* ACEROLA VITAMIN C: This is another natural form

(from a tropical American shrub). Like rose hips, acerola is

usually mixed with synthetic.

 

* VITAMIN C COMPLEX: This is somewhat non-specific,

and can be any group of

related items, such as multiple salts of C (calcium,

magnesium, potassium, sodium ascorbates, for example).

 

* ESTER C: There is some issue concerning Ester C, touted

as stronger than the

standard form. I don't think it's any stronger, and neither did

Dr. Linus Pauling, though you'll see commercials that

indicate otherwise. Some people do feel it has less of a

tendency to upset their stomach, however.

 

* FAT SOLUBLE VITAMIN C: The fat-soluble form of

vitamin C is called ascorbyl palmitate, and is better absorbed

and stored by the body than water-soluble forms. (All the

other forms of C are water-soluble.) Ascorbyl palmitate is

harder to find, and more expensive.

 

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Absorb this

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As I've mentioned in previous e-Alerts, the amount of any

vitamin you take is not necessarily the amount that your body

ends up absorbing and ultimately putting to use.

 

Stating that, " Absorption is the key to everything, " Dr.

Spreen tries to give the body what he calls " luxuriant

amounts " of nutrients (which he believes it can handle in

high doses, as opposed to drugs), and hopes the body gets

what it needs.

 

Complicating the absorption issue is the fact that your body's

ability to absorb nutrients is not necessarily the same from

one day to the next. Dr. Spreen says, " The degree of vitamin

C absorption changes depending upon the dose ingested and

the body's need at any particular time. For example, 6000

milligrams might cause loose stools in a given healthy person

when the same person during a bout with the flu might be

able to take 20,000 milligrams without difficulty.

 

" Some people are less tolerant to vitamin C in the acid form.

For them, switching to the salt form (sodium ascorbate,

calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, etc.) often permits

far higher tolerance. "

 

Dr. Spreen also points out that absorption may be facilitated

by the regular use of vitamin C. " Assuming you take enough

(RDA amounts won't do it), high doses of vitamin C

'awaken' dormant enzyme systems that can utilize the

additional doses of the nutrient. Over a period of time they

get used to having the higher dose and 'jack up' to

accommodate. "

 

As a final note, Dr. Spreen recommends that vitamin C (as

well as other vitamins) be taken in capsule-form or

powdered. If you take a pill-form, make sure it dissolves

quickly in water.

 

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....and another thing

 

I expect that a survey of HSI members would turn up

relatively few smokers, but I wouldn't be surprised to find

that many of us might be former smokers. And I have to

admit, I count myself among that group. But even those of us

that kicked the habit years ago could still be feeling the

effects of emphysema.

 

When smoking damages lung alveoli, the gas exchange

process in the lungs is impaired and breathing becomes more

difficult. But an English study has shown that mice induced

with a condition comparable to emphysema experienced a

significant restoration of alveoli and general lung function

when treated with retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A.

 

This trial confirms the results of earlier research on retinoic

acid that came to similar conclusions. In fact, in 1997 an HSI

member named John wrote to us with this question about one

of those trials: " A recent study found that retinoic acid cured

emphysema in rats. They say that researchers are a long way

from human studies, but would there be any harm in trying

retinoic acid supplements now? "

 

The short answer to John's question is yes, there could be

harm in trying retinoic acid. Here's how two HSI Panelists

responded in the September 1997 Members Alert:

 

Martin Milner, N.D.: " The retinoic acid used in the study you

mention is manufactured as a relatively new chemotherapy

drug. The potential side effects are numerous and common,

including headaches (86%), fever (83%), bone pain (77%),

and nausea and/or vomiting (57%). Nutritionally oriented

physicians have been using vitamin A and mixed carotenoids

for years in the treatment of emphysema. Retinoic acid may

offer some further benefit in increasing the number of lung

sacs (alveoli) but at a big price (the side effects). I would not

recommend it. "

 

Michael Rosenbaum, M.D.: " I have never used retinoic acid

for treating emphysema and wouldn't advise anyone to

experiment with it. I have used vitamin A many times,

however, for these reasons: (1) it helps to restore the integrity

of the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract; (2) most folks

with emphysema are or were smokers. Smoking profoundly

depletes Vitamin A; and (3) emphysema patients are prone to

serious lung infections. Vitamin A is an immune stimulant

par excellence. However, therapeutic doses are well above

the RDA and vary from patient to patient. It is necessary to

monitor serum levels. "

 

So while you may be barking up the right tree by using

vitamin A to address emphysema, it would be wise to consult

a doctor before starting a high-dosage vitamin A regimen.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute

 

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Sources:

" Vitamin May Restore Smokers' Lungs "

NutraIngredients.com, 12/22/03, nutraingredients.com

 

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