Vitamin C
(Ascorbic acid)
Contents
Description of Vitamin C
Vitamin C has been a staple in the arsenal of good health for
years yet aspects of it are still surrounded by a great deal of
conjecture. A water soluble vitamin found in fresh foods, Vitamin C
is clearly an indispensable building block for a healthy body,
perhaps functioning more as a ubiquitous player throughout a highly
complex system. Until its exact role is clarified, we do know that a
deficient amount is a serious problem.
For most of us, the history of Vitamin C begins with scurvy, a
disease that rises from lack of vitamin C, and the story of how
British sailors became known as 'limies'. British naval surgeon,
James Lind, in 1747, performed what was in essence the first
sea-going double bind study proving that citrus was a preventative
and cure for scurvy.
But scurvy wasn't the sole property of sailors. From the
1600-1800's scurvy epidemics killed substantial numbers of the
general population at a time when poor nutrition and inadequate
hygiene were the norm. It was nearly fifty years before Lind's
discovery was instituted as regulation throughout the British navy,
but soon after, "Antiscorbics", foods that prevented scurvy, began
to come into popular understanding and the importance of fruits and
vegetables in the human diet began to be understood although no one
knew exactly why.
It wasn't until the early 20th century that a Polish-American
scientist conducted research into deficiency diseases and
suggested the concept of vitamins supplementation. He postulated
that there were several vitamins that were essential to a healthful
body, among them one he called 'vitamine C'. In 1933 vitamin C was
isolated and its importance noted. It was also hypothesized, based
on observed Eskimo life that this important vitamin could be gotten
from eating raw flesh since that was the main source of Eskimo
nutrition in the complete absence of plants.
In 1959, it was discovered that humans and a handful of other
animals, including primates, are unable to synthesize their own
vitamin C, unlike all other living creatures. They (we) lack the
ability to manufacture the last of four crucial enzymes needed to
create ascorbic acid. Linus Pauling and other notable researchers
consider this an indication of a genetic flaw in the human race that
evolved over millions of years. We now know that the inclusion
of either raw meat or fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet,
imperative in order to insure the presence of enough ascorbin acid
to stave off a variety of deficiency-cased problems.
Because vitamin C is so widely used throughout the body and based
on the fact that most animals manufacture 3000-4000 mgs of vitamin C
a day, Dr. Pauling supported mega-dosing . This vitamin therapy,
while widely and generally successfully practiced, has not garnered
the general support of the medical community.
Key uses of Vitamin C
- Asthma, Bronchitis, lessens the severity and duration of
colds
- Effective against viral infections
- Anti-oxidant
- Speeds healing of wounds and bruises
- Essential building block for the nervous system including
the brain, the circulatory system, the endocrine system and
throughout most organs.
- Important in the transport of energy to the cells
Clinical
Applications of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant, supporting the immune
system by reducing the impact of free radicals. It has a histamine
effect which is helpful in colds and allergic reactions. Research
has also shown it is effective in treating viral infections. Its
role in the development of collagen, a major building block for
tissues and bones helps the body heal its wounds and bruises. There
is also evidence that its abundant presence supports a healthy
cardiovascular system, effecting cholesterol levels and
strengthening vascular structures.
How Vitamin C Works
Vitamin C is needed for the production of collagen in the
connective tissue used throughout the body. It is required for the
synthesis of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the nervous
system. It is essential to the synthesis of carnitine, important in
the transfer of energy to the cell mitochondria. It is a strong
antioxidant, scavenging free radicals throughout the body and
adequate levels of C are a vital component in the health of adrenal
glands, the pituitary, the thymus, corpus luteum, the retina.
the brain, spleen ,lungs, testicles, lymph nodes, liver, thyroid ,
small intestinal mucosa, leukocytes, pancreas, kidney and salivary
glands.
Safety of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is considered one of the least toxic substances known
to medicine.
Precautions of Vitamin C
Most precautions relate to extremely large dosages and can
involve a variety of reactions including diarrhea, the potential of
kidney stones and may interfere with the body's ability to absorb
iron, selenium and copper.
Recommended Amounts of
Vitamin C
Less than 50 mg a day can result in an increased risk of heart
attack, cataracts, and a reduced life span.
There are a variety of recommended dosages. The (RDA) amount of
vitamin C has been set by variously national agencies as follows:
60-95 mg per day
Food and
Nutrition Board (US) 2001 revision.
Some researchers have calculated the amount needed for an adult
human to achieve similar blood serum levels as Vitamin C
synthesizing mammals as follows:
400 mg per day - Linus Pauling Institute & US National
Institutes of Health (NIH) Recommendation.
Mega-dosing (more than 2000mg a day) Please consult with a
doctor before mega-dosing any vitamin or herb.
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