Vitamin C - Best for Longevity
March 21st, 2008It has now been decades since there has been widespread public knowledge about the efficacy of vitamin C. It began with Dr. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winning laureate. He himself started taking high doses of vitamin C in 1965. He died in 1994 at the age of 93. He believed that his death was delayed for 20 years because of his vitamin C intake that went as high as 18,000 milligrams per day in later years. In his work on vitamin C, Dr. Pauling made it clear that he believed people could have an extra 12-18 years of life by taking 3,200 to 12,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day (equivalent to 45 to 75 oranges). Based on this hypothesis, he found in a study of 11,000 Americans that an intake of 300 mg of vitamin C per day (equivalent to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day) gave up to an extra 6 years to a man’s life and 2 years to a woman’s life. Likewise, cardiovascular disease in this group was reduced significantly.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant. Humans are one of the few animals that cannot produce this vitamin and must therefore obtain it from external sources. Fortunately, it is found abundantly in fruits and vegetables such as oranges, papayas, tomatoes and brussels sprouts. It is a supplement needed as insurance against the increased demands of aging.
Vitamin C also comes in a fat-soluble form called ascorbyl palmitate. Once absorbed, ascorbyl palmitate has been shown in Dr. Pauling’s studies to fortify the micro-capillary wall of blood vessels that often deteriorate due to the aging process. His studies showed that when taken in conjunction with the amino acids L-lysine and L-proline, vitamin C was associated with a substantial reduction in atherosclerosis.
What Vitamin C Does
Research on vitamin C is so well known that many people know at least two or three of its effects, which are wide ranging. They have been postulated to immunize against cancer, save arteries by driving up HDL, raise immunity by increasing production of lymphocytes, reverse the biological clock by increasing the white blood cell level in the elderly, improve sperm and restore male fertility, combat gum disease, suppress high blood pressure, and regenerate vitamin E and glutathione.
How Much Vitamin C to Take?
Normally 250-1,000 mg is adequate for anti-aging purposes (note that one orange contains only 65 mg). One needs to take vitamin C 2-3 times per day for best results as it is water-soluble and quickly excreted by our kidneys.
Side Effects of Vitamin C
In eight studies, no serious adverse effects were from taking 10,000 mg of Vitamin C daily for several years. However, too much of it may cause diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn. It has been reported to exacerbate iron toxicity in those with genetic disorders such as hemochromatosis. Those who have a sensitive stomach can take an “ester” form of Vitamin C which causes less irritation.
