Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables but many people choose vitamin C supplements to ensure an adequate intake, or as a means to treat certain health conditions. For consumer protection, the federal government has set a recommended daily allowance but the advice of doctors and natural healers varies — some suggest high doses of vitamin C are the most beneficial while others take a more cautious approach.
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Vitamin C is recognized by The National Institutes of Health as playing an important role as an antioxidant, serving to "protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals." People are "exposed to free radicals in the environment from cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet light from the sun." NIH also states that vitamin C helps wounds heal, improves iron absorption, and "helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease." However, unlike some healers who believe more benefits are gained from high doses, the NIH is cautious, recommending a daily vitamin C allowance of only 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men.
In a report for Life Extension Magazine, Dr. Laurie Barclay stated that vitamin C "is crucial in supporting the health of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, bones, respiratory system, and more." In terms of dosages, Barclay says, "Unfortunately, many people fail to consume enough vitamin C to realize its vast array of health benefits. Most adults wrongly assume that the 75-90 mg of vitamin C recommended by the federal government is an optimal daily dose. In fact, this 'recommended dietary allowance' is only enough to prevent vitamin-deficiency disease states such as scurvy — but not nearly enough to support optimal health."
The Linus Pauling Institute was founded by lauded biochemist Dr. Linus Pauling whose research into high doses of vitamin C was considered groundbreaking and controversial. The institute's research library is extensive. One
LPI report on vitamin C states, "Based on our review of the literature, we conclude that the RDA for vitamin C should be 120 mg/day for optimum risk reduction of heart disease, stroke, and cancer in healthy individuals. Special populations, such as older adults and individuals with disease, may require substantially larger amounts of vitamin C to achieve optimum body levels and derive therapeutic benefits."
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Dr. Ronald Hoffman reports that in his practice at the Hoffman Center "high-dose intravenous vitamin C is the mainstay of my approach to viral infections such as mono, hepatitis and shingles." In addition, Hoffman has "long believed that high doses of C — way beyond the amount we can assimilate orally — provide a natural way of enhancing immunity, eradicating viral pathogens that are hard to treat with medication and even helping to suppress cancer." In certain cancer treatments he has used doses "ranging from 50 to more than 100 grams of vitamin C per IV (compared to the gram or two that most people take daily simply for prevention and immune support)."
This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.
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