Vitamin C Complex

More Good News

by Sheryl McMillan

 

The primary food sources that provide us with Vitamin C are fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, lemons, limes, papaya, strawberries and cantaloupe.  (In addition to being excellent sources of Vitamin C, these also contain the bioflavonoids that help protect the blood vessels of the circulatory system). Several vegetables also have high concentrations of Vitamin C, among them tomatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, lettuce and other leafy green vegetables. The amount many derive from their food choices, however, may be enough to prevent scurvy but not long-term degeneration of their cardiovascular system (leading to strokes, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, etc). For optimal nutrition and therapeutic effects, therefore, supplementation of Vitamin C is desirable.

 

The body receives Vitamin C through absorption in the gut, and again in the kidneys. Since there is a limited time that C stays in the bloodstream it is best to divide the daily intake into several smaller doses throughout the day.

 

The amount of Vitamin C an individual needs is likely to be the result of a combination of factors, including dietary intakes such as sugars as well as environmental/emotional factors that cause stress and destroy Vitamin C through the production of adrenalin. For instance people with diabetes, those who use alcohol, and smokers need higher than the average intakes since these factors have been found to diminish the amount of Vitamin C the body can use from their food sources. 

 

Smoking has been conclusively shown to harm the efficiency with which the body metabolizes Vitamin C. High sugar intake also reduces the amount of Vitamin C that is absorbed.

 

Although the medical establishment seems keen to talk-down the effectiveness of Vitamin C against infectious disease, there are numerous studies which show significant therapeutic results. Trials are sometimes quoted that do not show a significant improvement but even these results are sometimes due to doses that were too small and/or given too late after the onset of illness (and often, upon closer examination, even the small doses had some benefit!).

 

Below is a list of just a few studies carried out using Vitamin C against illness ranging from colds to pneumonia. The dosages varied per study but all were conducted using controls and peer-reviewed in established scientific media. The figures on the right represent the average percentage of decrease in illness per person in the Vitamin C groups vs placebo.

 

[1] Glazebrook & Thomson (1942)                        50%

[2] Cowan, Diehl, Maker (1942)                            31%

[3] Franz, Sands, Heyl (1956)                               36%

[4] Anderson et al (1975)                                       25%

[5] Ritzel (1961)                                                    63%

[6] Anderson, Reid, Beaton (1972)               32%

[7] Charleston, Clegg (1972)                             58%

[8] Elliot (1973)                                                     44%

[9] Sabiston & Radomski (1974)                           68%

[10] Karlowski et al (1975)                                   21%

[11] Carr et al (1981a, 1981b)                          48%

 

The Glazebrook and Thomson study was done with men working in mines. The Sabiston and Radomski trial subjects were soldiers living in tents in Northern Canada.

 

One of the best studies on Vitamin C and colds was conducted in 1977 with 133 medical students, physicians and patients in Pernambuco. [12]   They were given 30 grams each over a 5-day period at 6 grams per day beginning on the 1^st, 2^nd or third day of a cold. A placebo in the form of effervescent tablet was given so the subjects would not know if they had taken the Vitamin C or not.

 

The duration of their colds was reduced in direct proportion to how soon they began receiving the Vitamin C. For those receiving their 6 grams on the 1^st day the average duration was 3.6 days. Those in the 2^nd day group had an average duration of 5.4 days and those in the day 3 group had colds lasting an average of 9 days. In addition, the three Vit C groups had successive reductions in the incidence of complications like bacterial infection, with the group getting their Vitamin C the soonest having the least complications, with those in day one and two showing the greatest benefit. A fourth control group received the placebo and showed both longer durations and more complications on average than the other groups. Those who developed secondary infections were ill an average of 15 days.

 

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