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Vit C

Vit C Use and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women – (01-22-01)

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Vit C Use and Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women

I am a very big fan of the use of Vit C for bone health because Vit C is essential for laying down ground substance, the framework upon which bone and cartilage is built. Interestingly, the average intake was 745 mg; much, much higher than the RDA.

J Bone Miner Res 2001 Jan;16(1):135-40 vitamin C is known to stimulate procollagen, enhance collagen synthesis, and stimulate alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteoblast formation. Studies of dietary vitamin C intake and the relation with bone mineral density (BMD) have been conflicting, probably because of the well-known limitations of dietary nutrient assessment questionnaires. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the independent relation of daily vitamin C supplement use with BMD in a population-based sample of postmenopausal women. Subjects were 994 women from a community-based cohort of whom 277 women were regular vitamin C supplement users. vitamin C supplement use was validated. Daily vitamin C supplement intake ranged from 100 to 5,000 mg; the mean daily dose was 745 mg. Average duration of use was 12.4 years; 85% had taken vitamin C supplements for more than 3 years. BMD levels were measured at the ultradistal and midshaft radii, hip, and lumbar spine. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and total calcium intake, vitamin C users had BMD levels approximately 3% higher at the midshaft radius, femoral neck, and total hip (p < 0.05). In a fully adjusted model, significant differences remained at the femoral neck (p < 0.02) and marginal significance was observed at the total hip (p < 0.06). Women taking both estrogen and vitamin C had significantly higher BMD levels at all sites. Among current estrogen users, those also taking vitamin C had higher BMD levels at all sites, with marginal significance achieved at the ultradistal radius (p < 0.07), femoral neck (p < 0.07), and total hip (p < 0.09). Women who took vitamin C plus calcium and estrogen had the highest BMD at the femoral neck (p = 0.001), total hip (p = 0.05), ultradistal radius (p = 0.02), and lumbar spine. vitamin C supplement use appears to have a beneficial effect on levels of BMD, especially among postmenopausal women using concurrent estrogen therapy and calcium supplements.

High-Dose Multivitamins Adversely Affect Coronary Plaque – (11-29-00)

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High-Dose Multivitamins Adversely Affect Coronary Plaque

At first glance, this article seems to put a damper on vitamin supplementation. Further introspection does reveal some additional clues. First, the author of this study considers 500 mg Vit C as a high dose. Considering that other mammals that make their own Vit C make maintenance dosages in the range of 10,000+ mg per DAY (and increase that several fold in response to stress…) 500 mg is really very low. Linus Pauling considered therapeutic dosages in the thousands of mg. Even more importantly, this is another example of man trying to better nature. Beta carotene is just one of hundreds of the carotenoids that nature provides, and Vit C found in fruits is augmented by the presence of bioflavanoids to increase the health benefits. Lets try this trial again, this time using whole fruits and vegetables…

(article) High-dose multivitamin supplements promote the development of fibrosis at the site of angioplastic intervention, according to findings presented by Montreal investigators during the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2000. This effect may help explain why high-dose multivitamins did not prevent restenosis or improve vascular remodeling in the Multi-vitamins and Probucol Trial (MVP), previously reported by the Montreal group. The MVP trial involved 317 patients who were randomly assigned to either probucol 500 mg b.i.d., or 700 IU vitamin E plus 500 mg vitamin C plus 30,000 IU beta carotene b.i.d., or both, or placebo. Treatment was started 30 days before undergoing angioplasty and was continued for six months following the procedure. “The changes we saw in plaque content on IVUS are compatible with an increase in fibrosis in the arterial wall at the site of angioplasty,” Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, director of clinical research, Montreal Heart Institute told Reuters Health, “and in relation to angioplasty, fibrosis prevents the process of beneficial vascular remodeling, which is not good.” Dr. Tardif also noted that these observations are “entirely compatible” with their previously reported findings from the MVP trial. The doses of the vitamins used in the MVP trial were very high, but as Dr. Tardif explained, the trial was started in 1994. “At that time we did not want to be criticized for not giving high enough doses of multivitamins, so yes, you could say that the doses we used were high. But it’s also important for people to realize that vitamins are not as benign as they think they are, especially when taken in high doses.” Findings from the MVP trial indicated that probucol decreased the rate of stenosis by 50% and late luminal loss by 68%, which was “quite a dramatic effect,” Dr. Tardif observed. However, concerns about adverse effects related to probucol, including a reduction in high density lipoprotein levels, led to its subsequent withdrawal from the market.

Infectious Burden and Long-Term Prognosis of Atherosclerosis – (01-03-02)

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Infectious Burden and Long-Term Prognosis of Atherosclerosis

I think it is safe to add an infectious mechanism to the list of contributors to cardiovascular disease. A few interesting things here. H. pylori is included in the list of possible infectious agents. Could it be that the infectious agent is there because of some depression in the immune system? Much evidence points to a reduction in gastric Vit C as a risk factor for H. pylori infection. Considering that Vit C has definite benefits in CVD, it may actually be the Vit C and not the H. pylori infection…

Circulation — Abstracts: Espinola-Klein et al. 105 (1): 15

 

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Collagen Synthesis in Cultured Fibroblasts with Varicose Veins – (07-25-02)

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Collagen Synthesis in Cultured Fibroblasts with Varicose Veins

This experiment demonstrates that the synthesis of collagen, an essential building frame for the structure of almost all tissue in the human body, is dysregulated in patients with varicose veins. Horsechestnut and butcher’s broom are two herbs that have been used for centuries to address varicose veins. These contain bioflavanoids that are known to stabilize vessel walls. Vit C is also important for collagen synthesis and may benefit varicose veins.

Circulation — Abstracts: Sansilvestri-Morel et al. 106 (4): 479

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Vit C Inhibits Endothelial Cell Apoptosis in Congestive Heart Failure – (11-01-01)

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Vit C Inhibits Endothelial Cell Apoptosis in Congestive Heart Failure

In case you hadn’t already, make sure you add Vit C to the list of nutrients essential in managing cardiovascular disease. Personally I take 2,000 mg per day, but there are many instances when I recommend dosages about this. And remember that Vit E and C have a synergistic effect when taken together.

Circulation — Abstracts: Rössig et al. 104 (18): 2182

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Treatment of the Common Cold with Unrefined Echinacea – (12-19-02)

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Treatment of the Common Cold with Unrefined Echinacea

A few comments here. First, most commercially available forms of echniacea are standardized for the active components (which is still up for debate…) and not given unrefined. The practitioners using unrefined herbs are very knowledgeable and will use this herb as it was meant to be used–as one component to a multi pronged approach to strengthening the immune system. Personally, I never recommend echinacea. I usually tell patients to avoid refined carbs because they suppress the immune system, drink lots of water and take lots of Vit C (1 gram/hour to bowel tolerance).

Annals of Internal Medicine

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Vitamin C, gastric cancer cells and Helicobacter pylori – (01-17-02)

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Vitamin C, gastric cancer cells and Helicobacter pylori

This study finds that Vit C can protect against the cancerous changes that can be associated with H. pylori infection but that the typical patient does not have enough Vit C in gastric juice to achieve this effect. Maybe that’s why the bacteria is there in the first place???… Okay, since this is yet another study showing that Vit C seems to play a pivotal role in treatment of H. pylori associated gastric conditions, why are we not seeing this as an essential co-factor for treatment? Just give it a few decades…

Gut — Abstracts: Zhang et al. 50 (2): 165

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Vitamin C, inflammation and hardening of the arteries – (05-07-01)

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Vit C, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Inflammation and Atherosclerosis

This article puts more weight towards the recommendation of Vit C as an integral portion of any program designed to lower your risk of heart disease. These findings are interesting in light of the article released last year that announced that Vit C was responsible for an increase in intimal thickness of the carotid arteries.

Circulation — Abstracts: Langlois et al. 103 (14): 1863

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