I’d like to buy a C, Pat.
Around this time of year I always get questions about 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).
* 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.
————————————————————
Absorb this
————————————————————
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.
“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:
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
