Vitamin C = ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin which is necessary for the re-formation of tissue in the body and the production of adrenalin and healthy gums.
Vitamin C protects against the harmful effects of pollution, protects against some cancers, protects against infections, and strengthens the immune defence. It can also lower the level of cholesterol and the blood pressure.
Vitamin C prevents blood clotting and induces wound healing and the production of anti-stress hormones. It gives rise to the production of interferon and is necessary in the metabolization of folic acid, tyrosine, and phenylalanine.
Studies indicate that the combination of vitamin C and vitamin E has a stronger effect than the individual vitamins. Vitamin E searches for harmful oxygen radicals in the cell membranes, whereas vitamin C destroys the chain of free radicals. Both of these vitamins are very active antioxidants.
Since the body cannot produce vitamin C itself, it must be provided through the diet or as a supplement. Vitamin C normally only stays in the body for a few hours. Therefore it should be supplemented at short intervals. Vitamin C is secreted with the urine. Illness increases the body's need of vitamin C.
The best way of taking vitamin C is therefore as a long-acting tablet or at least three times daily with bioflavanoids, which are found in fruit and vegetables or can be taken as a supplement. For many acute diseases it can be taken once an hour with advantage. Vitamin C is most effectively administered intravenously, especially if a larger therapeutic supplement is needed, but this requires consultation with a doctor.
Ester C
Ester C polyascorbate is a breakthrough for vitamin C. Jonathan Wright, M.D., invented this kind of vitamin C, and he showed that the ascorbate level in the white blood corpuscles was increased four times with Ester C compared to treatments using ordinary vitamin C drugs, an only one third was secreted with the urine.
In Ester C, calcium ascorbate is combined with the vitamin C metabolites dehydroascorbate and calcium threonate.
Ester C takes effect in the bloodstream and the tissue four times faster than conventional vitamin C drugs. This is tremendously important for the composition of the immune system. Ester C binds the minerals which aid faster absorption: calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and sodium.
Ascorbyl palmitate
A fat-soluble form of vitamin C. It protects the cell membranes against damages caused by free radicals.
Natural vitamin C can be found in green vegetables like avocados, asparagus, broccoli, peas, and spinach, berries like redcurrants, blackberries, strawberries, and grapes, and in fruit like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, mango, papaya, and pineapples.
Vitamin C is fragile and is easily destroyed by light or heat. Preservation and long-time storage reduces the vitamin C content in food. Several studies show that the natural content of vitamin C in fruit and vegetables has been reduced considerably as a consequence of cultivation methods, transport time, and storage conditions. The last remains of vitamin C often disappear during cooking.
Deficiency symptoms
Acute: sallow and muddy complexion, fatigue, low endurance, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties, dislike of physical exertion, anaemia, somnolence, haematoma, joint pain, especially in legs, and degeneration of discus.
Later stages: painful gums which easily bleed and are spongy and swollen, red stains and small skin bleedings, especially in the legs, swollen and purple eyelids, and blood in the urine.
Severe final stage: muddy, brownish complexion, severe weakening, light exertion gives breathing difficulties and heart palpitations, spongy and bleeding gums, loose teeth which fall out, bleeding wounds which cannot heal, excruciating joint pain, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and fatal scurvy.
Mental symptoms: exhaustion, restlessness, derangement, depression, and a hollow facial expression, racked with pain.
Dosage
To avoid scurvy in its fatal form, the daily intake of vitamin C should not be less than 10 mg. A more secure minimum dose against damages caused by a vitamin C deficiency, however, should not be less than 200 mg. daily. An even more sensible daily dosage should be 1 - 2 g.
Smokers should take 2 - 3 g. a day in the form of acid neutral vitamin C.
General poisoning and certain diseases might increase the need to 100 g. or more. An intake of such a large amount of vitamin C, however, requires guidance of a medical specialist.
Taking 500 mg. of vitamin C at a time will result in the highest plasma concentration occurring after 3 hours and the whole dose being metabolized in a matter of 8 hours. For this reason, your intake of vitamin C should be distributed throughout the day.
Side effects
Very large doses of vitamin C can cause abdominal pain and diarrhoea because of the acidic effect. Vitamin C in the form of calcium ascorbate does not, however, provoke this acidic effect.
Warning
Aspirin, alcohol, pain-killing drugs, anti-depressants, anti-coagulation drugs, contraceptive pills, and adrenal hormone drugs release large quantities of free radicals and thus increase our need for vitamin C.
The effect of diabetes- and sulfa drugs may be reduced by vitamin C intake.
Pregnant women should not take larger doses than RDA without seeing a doctor.
Also as Calciumascorbate.
