Vitamin C plays an important role as a component of enzymes involved in the syntheses if collagen and carnitine. However, its most vital role is no doubt that of the primary, water-soluble antioxidant in the human body.
Vitamin C was first recognized in the 18th century as a cure for scurvy in the form of fresh citrus juice. It was isolated in 1928 by the Hungarian biochemist and Nobel prize winner, Dr. Szent-Gyorgyi, as 3-keto-L-gulofurnlactone.
Its use in cancer therapy started in 1954 with W. J. McCormick, a Canadian physician, who formulated the hypotheses that cancer is a collagen disease secondary to a Vitamin C deficiency.
In 1971 Dr. Linus Pauling was the first to realize Vitamin C’s crucial importance in the maintenance of a healthy immune system. In 1970 he proposed that regular intake of Vitamin C in amounts far higher than the officially sanctioned RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) could help prevent and shorten the duration of the common cold.
Although the medical establishment immediately voiced their strong opposition to this idea, many ordinary people believed Dr. Pauling and began taking large amounts of Vitamin C. Most immediately noticed a great decrease in the frequency and severity of their colds. Recent medical research has confirmed Dr. Pauling’s original idea.
Because of Dr. Pauling, the use of Vitamin C supplementation in large doses for the prevention of cancer is now more advanced. Dr. Pauling and Ewan Cameron, MD., presented studies of their use of high-dose Vitamin C for treatment of patients with advanced cancer. Since then, considerable attention has been paid to Vitamin C and cancer, particularly in the area of prevention.
Not only does a Vitamin C intake markedly reduce the severity of a cold, it also effectively prevents secondary viral or bacterial complications. Vitamin C works by stimulating the immune system and protecting against damage by the free radicals released by the body in its fight against the infection.
Vitamin C lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels, helps thin the blood and protect it against oxidation and works in close synergism with Vitamin E. It also helps prevent atherosclerosis by strengthening the artery walls through its participation in the synthesis of collagen, and by preventing the undesirable adhesion of white blood cells to damaged arteries.
It stimulates collagen formation necessary for “walling off” tumors, and inhibits hyaluronidase, which keeps the ground substance around the tumor intact and prevents metastasis.
It is also a potent antioxidant that scavenges cancer-causing free radicals, neutralized carcinogenic chemicals such as nitrosamine and nitrites, and regenerates active Vitamin E in lipid membranes.
Supplementing with Vitamin C has been found to significantly lower the risk of cataracts and glaucoma and some very recent work has shown that open angle glaucoma can be reversed by supplementing with large doses of Vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a potent immunostimulant that enhances lymphocyte function and rapidly mobilizes phagocytes, has potent anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, increases IgA, IgG and IgM antibody levels, stimulates interferon syntheses, and accelerates and promotes wound healing after cancer surgery.
It also regulates inflammation by increasing synthesis of prostaglandin PGE1 (anti-inflammatory) and inhibiting prostaglandin PGE2 (inflammatory). It can also reduce the toxic effect of chemotherapeutic drugs such as Adriamycin.
Vitamin C is truly a wonder nutrient and there is no doubt that many of the serious degenerative diseases plaguing the civilized world today can be prevented or even reversed through and adequate intake of this essential vitamin.
The current RDA of 60 mg/day is clearly far too low and the proposed new RDA of 200 mg/day, while perhaps adequate for healthy, young males, would seem to be quite inadequate for older people and certainly way to low for sick people.
As a matter of fact, a scientific advisory panel to the US Government sponsored Alliance for Aging Research recently recommended that all healthy adults increase their Vitamin C intake to 250-1000 mg/day.
Selected References
Block G. Epidemiologic evidence regarding Vitamin C and cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 54(6 S):1310S-1314S, 1991.
Cameron E et al. Ascorbic acid and cancer: a review. Cancer Res 39:663- 681, 1979.
Cameron E et al. Supplemental ascorbate in the supportive treatment of cancer: Reevaluation of prolongation of survival times in terminal human cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci 75:4538-4542, 1978.
Head KA. Ascorbic acid in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Altern Med Rev 3(3):174-86, 1998.