Vitamin C
The history of Vitamin C is well known. When sailors showed symptoms of scurvy, scientists tried to find the cause. In 1593, Sir Richard Hawkins noted that the condition lessened considerably when sailors ate citrus fruits, but it was not until the mid 1700's that Hawkins' antidote was revived. In 1804, the British Navy finally made it mandatory that each sailor be alloted limes on their voyages. Hence, the name "limies" was given to them. Finally, in 1932, a Hungarian scientist isolated and identified Vitamin C as the nutrient responsible for the age-old disease of scurvy. He called it "ascorbic acid," which literally means "no scurvy."
During the winter of 1535 in Canada, Jacques Cartier recorded that many of his men were dying of scurvy, but were cured almost overnight when the Indians showed him how to make a brew from the growing tips of pine or spruce trees. Today, Vitamin C is tastier and, thankfully, found in many more foods.
Vitamin C is the most unstable of the vitamins and easily oxidized on exposure to air, light, alkali, and copper. High temperatures can also destroy it. This may explain the increased need during fevers. In addition, it is used up more rapidly during physical or mental stress.
The greatest concentrations of Vitamin C within the body are found in the adrenal glands, lens of the eye, and the liver. Since it is essential in the formation of elastin and collagen, the primary constituent of bone, cartilage, and connective tissue, ascorbic acid is an important nutrient for the growth and repair of tissue cells. It is also vital in assisting in metabolic actions of several nutrients, including the absorption of iron. The key to Vitamin C's effectiveness seems to be in the amount that passes through the digestive system rather than the amount that remains in the tissues. Most animals can make their own Vitamin C from glucose, but humans cannot -- even though many seem to try.
Vitamin C has been used to accelerate the healing of burns, and is known to prevent many types of viral and bacterial infections to which burn patients are especially prone. Vitamin C also stimulates the immune system, interfering with the release of histamine, thereby reducing the effects of allergies. Its benefits are many, especially in such conditions as colitis, mononucleosis, conjunctivitis, cronchitis, athlete's foot, prickly rash, canker sores, worms, and a host of other disorders, most notably being the common cold. It is also proven to be a natural laxative. Vitamin C has demonstrated an ability to decrease blood cholesterol by controlling the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. In addition, Vitamin C is being used to neutralize chloramines, which are chemicals added to the drinking water to purify it in place of chlorine. Chlorine is known to combine with other substances to produce carcinogens, but chloramines are also showing similar signs.
The recommended form of supplemental Vitamin C is a complex which includes bioflavinoids, especially hesperidin and rutin. These are sometimes labelled as citrus salts. Although natural or organic Vitamin C is chemically the same as ascorbic acid, the natural seems to be easier for children to digest. One must beware though, many Vitamin C supplements contain some form of "sugar" and/or "citrus bioflavinoids" to which some children adversely react.
The RDA figure of 60 mg. per day for adults was chosen to provide enough Vitamin C to prevent scurvy and to allow for adequate reserves. This figure was based, in part, on the concept that urinary excretion of Vitamin C indicates that body stores are near saturation. Recent research is outdating this concept, since numerous other factors are involved which can cause an excretion of Vitamin C. In addition, it is now recognized that much more than 60 mg. is required to maintain health within today's environmental and dietary conditions.
Studies have demonstrated that women whose daily intake is below 90 mg. (which is already 150% of the RDA) have a 2.5 times greater chance of developing cervical dysplasia (a predisposing condition to cervical cancer). The beneficial claims appear to be from its anitoxidant properties that block the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines in the body. A minimum of 200 mg. is usually mandatory just to maintain tissue values, with more being required in response to such stressors as poor diet, infection, smoking, environmental pollutants, the taking of any drugs or medications, surgery, burns, alcohol, or any other trauma to the body including emotional.
Many health practisioners recommend that those suffering from kidney stones or gout stop taking Vitamin C, since it was thought to raise the acid level in the urine, resulting in the conclusion that it must contribute to kidney stones. However, the opposite was found to be true. By raising the acid levels in the urine, Vitamin C actually assisted in dissolving the stones.
Vitamin C controls the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, helps in lowering cholesterol, prevents free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol the blood stream and from damaging lipids, enhances the ability of prostaglandins to keep blood cells from sticking together, and helps the arteries to dilate. With Vitamin C, all this is done more effectively, and more cheaply, than designer drugs.
Nitrites are the only additives directly linked to cancer. Therefore, Vitamin C is now commonly used in meat curing to help minimize the conversion of nitrites to nitrosamines. Nitrates can be converted to nitrites in the human body, but Vitamin C helps minimize this conversion (see Glossary under Nitrates).
Signs of scurvy are showing up in mothers and their newborns when women who were taking megadoses of Vitamin C during pregnancy abruptly stopped, producing a rebound deficiency. Large doses conditions the metabolism and the function of excretion. To stop taking anything suddenly invites trouble, whether it is a nutrient or a drug. Any substance should be tapered off gradually until the desired level is reached.
The earliest signs of a Vitamin C deficiency are reported to be small ecchymoses and petechiae on the buttocks and lower extremeties. Because scurvy can be overlooked at this stage, an observational diagnosis of ecchymoses in these areas should always include scurvy. These signs are quickly followed by swollen and bleeding gums and "bloodshot" eyes. The four H's determine a diagnosis of scurvy -- hemmorrhage (tiny "blood" spots on the skin - eccymoses and petechiea), hyperkeratosis (tiny raised bumps), hypochondriasis (a hypochondriac), and hematologic abnormalities (abnormal blood levels).
Note:
1) Never take with aspirin, as the synergic effect causes an increased bleeding in the digestive tract. Correct those problems with dietary adjustments first before resuming.
2) Although studies indicate Vitamin C and B6 help the frequency and severity of airway constriction and lowers the frequency of asthmatic episodes, it does not seem to help those already on steroid medication.
3) The daily use of chewable Vitamin C tablets can cause severe dental erosion in a matter of months.
4) Antivitamin C (dehydroascorbic acid) neutralizes Vitamin C on contact. This occurs when Vitamin C is mixed in water and left standing for many hours. It can be deactivated by antioxidants, Provitamin A, Vitamins A, C, E, and P.
5) Vitamin C may reverse anticoagulant activity of warfarin.
6) Diabetics and heart patients may require less of their medication if taking Vitamin C supplements.
7) Vitamin C can change lab test results taken to establish amounts of sugar in the blood and urine and can give a false negative in tests for blood in the stool. There are test kits available that are not affected by Vitamin C. Always notify your health care professional if taking any supplements, as they can not only falsify diagnostic tests, but can also interfere with the actions of many medications, as well as masking other deficiencies.
Summary:
Other names include: Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, hexaronic acid, antiscrobutic vitamin, cevitamic acid, Cebid, Cebion, Cantaxin, Cevalin, Cevatine, Cevimin, Cevitex, Cewin, Cipca, Cebicure, C-Vimin, Cevitamin, Testascorbic, Allercorb, Cecon, Ce0Vi-Sol, Ascorin, Ascorteal, Cegiolan, Adenex, Ascorvit, Cevex, Lemascorb, Ciamin, Hybrin, Vitacee, Cantan, Catavin C, Celin, Cenetone, Cescorbat, Cereon, Cergona, Cetemican, Cetamid, Planavit C, Colascor, Concemin, Duoscorb, Scorbacid, Davitamon C, Proscorbin, Redoxon, Scorbu-C, Ribena, Vicelat, Vitacin, Vitacimin, Vitascorbol, Vitrix, Cevitan, Laroscorbine.
Forms include: ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid calcium salt, ascorbic acid magnesium salt, ascorbic acid nicotinamide complex, ascorbic acid potassium salt, ascorbic acid sodium salt, ascorbyl palmitate. The most active forms are L-ascorbic acid and L-dehydroascorbic acid.
Deficiency symptoms include: (rebound deficiency can occur if large doses are halted abruptly), scurvy, generalized swelling, dry skin, small skin hemorrhages (ecchymosis and petechiae), easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, increased cholesterol levels, weak teeth and bones in children, loose teeth, separation of the ends of long bones, swollen/aching joints, aching muscles/extremeties, dry/thinning hair, swelling or hardening of hair follicles (hyperkeratosis), drying of tear glands, decreased appetite, weakness, fatigue, depression, stress, emotional agitation, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, anemia, decreased weight, deterioration of digestion, slow healing, decreased immunity/cancer resistance, gallstones, decreased heat/cold tolerance, back trouble.
Toxicity symptoms include: possible kidney stones, rashes, increased urinary oxalate excretion, and deterioration of growing bones.
Inhibitors include: ginseng, smoking, water, cooking, heat, light, oxygen, carbon monoxide, aspirin and their substitutes (aspirin products can triple the rate of depletion through excretion), ferrous sulfate, barbiturates, adrenalin, estrogen, stilbestrol, ammonium chloride, antihistamines, atripine, sulfonamides, antacids, anticoagulants, cortisone, prednisone, diuretics, antidepressants, indomethacin, sodium salicylate, sodium nitrate, theobromine sodium salicylate, methenamine, and stress.
Helpers include: Vitamins B2, C2, C3, P, T, calcium, magnesium.
Vitamin C calcium salt is a specific form of Vitamin C. Other names include: ascorbic acid calcium salt, calcium ascorbate.
Vitamin C magnesium salt is a specific form of Vitamin C. Other names include: ascorbic acid magnesium salt, magnesium ascorbate.
Vitamin C Nicotinamide Complex is a specific form of Vitamin C in combination with Vitamin B3b and is used in Vitamin B3b therapy. Other names include:ascorbic acid nicotinamide complex, nicotinamide ascorbate, niaciniamide ascorbate, Vitamin B3 ascorbate, Vitamin B3b ascorbate, Merpress, Nicoscorbine, Nicastubine.
Vitamin C Palmitate is the fat-soluble form of Vitamin C. Other names include: ascorbyl palmitate, Vitamin C palmitate, fat-soluble Vitamin C, lipid-soluble Vitamin C.
Vitamin C Potassium salt is a specific form of Vitamin C. Other names include: ascorbic acid potassium salt, potassium ascorbate.
Vitamin C sodium salt is a specific form of Vitamin C. Other names include: ascorbic acid sodium salt, sodium ascorbate.
Vitamin C2 is a specific form for Vitamin P and is considered a bioflavonoid. Other names include: Vitamin J (a postulated antipneumonia factor), catechol, calechol (flavin). Sources of it are orange and lemon juice and cabbage. (B>Note: It is not to be confused with catechol (pyrocatechol) which is also called catechol (amines that have an aromatic molecule called catechol. These include dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine).
Vitamin C3 is a specific form of Vitamin P. Deficiency symptoms include: fragile blood vessels, easy bruising, nosebleeds, aggregation of blood cells, predisposition for blood clots, decreased Vitamin C availability, decreased Vitamin A absorption, decreased levels of epinephrine, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, decreased antiviral activity, decreased frostbite resistance. There is no known toxicities up to 3 grams.
