| Vitamin C and Vascular Health |
Introduction
This article explains why some forms of vascular disease may be caused by a deficiency in vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid). Particular
attention will be given to the research of two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling.
L-ascorbic acid as Vitamin C
Each day most animals are capable of synthesizing 10-12 grams of their own L-ascorbic acid. Primates, including humans, are one of the
few groups of animals that do not synthesize their own. We classify L-ascorbic acid as a vitamin both because this chemical is essential
to sustain life and because we must obtain it through diet.
Vitamin C and Collagen
Our bodies use vitamin C, in conjunction with the amino acids, L-lysine, L-glycine and L-proline, to synthesize collagen. Collagen is the
body's most abundant protein and the major component of connective tissue. Connective tissue has structural and supportive functions
that are indispensable to all tissues, including those of the blood vessels. It holds our bodies together. Collagen cannot be built without
vitamin C.
Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy)
Early humans, like primates, lived in habitats abundant in fruits and vegetables. As part of their diet they consumed these Vitamin C-rich
plants. However, since transitioning to more agrarian and urban environments, and with the consequent change in their diets, people
have commonly suffered deficiencies of this vitamin. This is true even today and perhaps especially so. Typically, most people either eat
too few plants; eat plants relatively low in vitamin C; and/or eat too much sugar, which competes for Vitamin C for entry into cells. A
very severe deficiency in Vitamin C causes the disease scurvy. A person suffering from scurvy stops making collagen; and as a result, his
or her body, lacking the ability to repair and build new connective tissue, simply falls apart.
Heart and Vascular Disease as Chronic Low-grade Scurvy
Linus Pauling stated that the cause of death of fifty percent of scurvy patients is ruptured blood vessels. Collagen is needed to repair
weakened and damaged blood vessels—to prevent them from rupturing. Pauling hypothesized that there are many different degrees of
severity of the disease. He believed that vascular disease may actually be a form of chronic low-grade scurvy.
Vitamin C Deficiency and Plaque
Normal daily wear and tear, including also stress, exercise and pollutants, all degrade the integrity of blood vessel walls. This is
especially true of the blood vessels of the heart and brain. But when adequate amounts of vitamin C and L-lysine are consumed, the
body is able to use them to synthesize collagen, and thus, repair and strengthen weakened or damaged blood vessels. (L-lysine is an
essential amino acid, which means it must be obtained from a protein-rich diet or supplementation. Our bodies synthesize L-proline and
L-glycine.)
Studies published by Pauling have shown that, to repair blood vessels in the absence of adequate amounts of vitamin C, the body
compensates by manufacturing a protein called “lipoprotein-a”. Lipoprotein-a is a major component of the plaque found in the blood
vessels of atherosclerosis patients. Atherosclerosis is a general term used to describe the hardening of the arteries due to plaque.
Plaque is used to glue together the damaged areas of blood vessels. The build-up of plaque in the blood vessels may, over time, lead to
plaque ruptures and narrowing of the arteries, or to an aneurysm. The effects of plaque build-up are a direct cause of heart attacks and
strokes. Animals that are able to manufacture high levels of L-ascorbic acid have been found to have very little lipoprotein-a in their
blood.
Vitamin C and Vascular Health
The good news for suffers of atherosclerosis, however, is that when vitamin C is made available in adequate amounts, it has been
shown not only to dissolve plaque-formations caused from previous deficiencies in the vitamin, but also to repair and strengthen the
same blood vessels that were glued together with (the now dissolved) plaque. Furthermore, since vitamin C is an anti-oxidant,
neutralizing free-radicals, it will also help to prevent further damage to blood vessel walls due to oxidative stress.
Pauling was convinced that high doses of vitamin C can help prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease, inhibiting the formation of
disease-promoting lesions on blood vessel walls and perhaps decreasing the production of lipoprotein-a in the blood. He wrote that
there are two main reasons why larger amounts of vitamin C than are present in the plants we use as food are needed to maintain
optimal vascular health. First, the body has a continuous need to synthesize large amounts of collagen for growth and for replacement
of the collagen degraded by daily wear and tear. Second, in the critical reactions that assemble collagen in the tissues, vitamin C does
not serve merely as a catalyst of the reaction—it is destroyed. In other words, vitamin C cannot be reused after being synthesized to
form collagen. It may be added, too, that vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, and thus, cannot be stored in the body for long periods of
time.
Other Roles of Vitamin C in Health
Aside from its role in the synthesis of collagen, it is well-known that vitamin C is necessary to maintain a healthy immune system; and
may also, as recent research indicates, help prevent and cure cancer. In fact, studies abound on the possible benefits of vitamin C in
helping to treat or mitigate a wide number of diseases and disorders.
Pauling's Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin C
The current U.S. Recommended Daily Intake for Vitamin C is between 60 and 90 milligrams. Pauling recommended that people take daily
doses of vitamin C much greater than this. Though the need for vitamin will probably vary greatly from person-to-person, Pauling
recommended people take between 5-10 grams of vitamin C a day—this dosage being on par with primates that consume L-ascorbic
acid as part of their diet. Pauling himself started by taking daily doses of vitamin C of 3 grams in the 1960s. By the 1990s he had
increased his daily doses to 18 grams. He lived into his 90s.
Since Vitamin C is water-soluble it is better to take the doses spread out through the day. It is best taken before or with a meal. The
amino acid L-lysine can only be obtained from the a protein-rich diet or directly from supplements. Since L-proline and L-glycine are
manufactured by the body supplementation is not necessary. When high levels of vitamin C and L-lysine supplements are taken
together, as a means to deliberately encourage the production of collagen to heal weakened or damaged blood vessels or reverse
atherosclerosis, this is called “Pauling Therapy”. The ratio of Vitamin C : L-lysine Pauling recommended is 3:1 or 3:2.
Cautions on Vitamin C Supplementation
Vitamin C has been found to exhibit low toxicity. Studies indicate Pauling's own dosage of 18 grams per day to be well below the toxicity
threshold. However, large-scale research on the intake of large doses of vitamin C by humans has not yet been conducted.
When taking any supplement be wary of the additional ingredients contained in it. This is especially true if you intend to take high levels
of vitamin C and/or L-lysine. Avoid supplements that contain magnesium stearate. This chemical is chalk—the same chalk your teacher
would use to write your assignments on the blackboard! Supplements that include soy oil, or safflower oil, usually contain a high level of
pesticides and should be avoided. Also avoid supplements that have titanium dioxide as this is known to cause auto-immune disorders.
The purest vitamin C known to the author is sold in powder form by The Vitamin C Foundation. The purest L-lysine known to the author
is sold in powder form by the company NOW.
References
Pauling, Linus (1986), How to Live Longer and Feel Better, Oregon State University Press.
Williams, Roger J. (1971), Nutrition Against Disease, Bantam Books.
Mercola.com
Vitamincfoundation.org
Vrp.com (Vitamin Research Products)
Healingdaily.com
This article explains why some forms of vascular disease may be caused by a deficiency in vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid). Particular
attention will be given to the research of two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling.
L-ascorbic acid as Vitamin C
Each day most animals are capable of synthesizing 10-12 grams of their own L-ascorbic acid. Primates, including humans, are one of the
few groups of animals that do not synthesize their own. We classify L-ascorbic acid as a vitamin both because this chemical is essential
to sustain life and because we must obtain it through diet.
Vitamin C and Collagen
Our bodies use vitamin C, in conjunction with the amino acids, L-lysine, L-glycine and L-proline, to synthesize collagen. Collagen is the
body's most abundant protein and the major component of connective tissue. Connective tissue has structural and supportive functions
that are indispensable to all tissues, including those of the blood vessels. It holds our bodies together. Collagen cannot be built without
vitamin C.
Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy)
Early humans, like primates, lived in habitats abundant in fruits and vegetables. As part of their diet they consumed these Vitamin C-rich
plants. However, since transitioning to more agrarian and urban environments, and with the consequent change in their diets, people
have commonly suffered deficiencies of this vitamin. This is true even today and perhaps especially so. Typically, most people either eat
too few plants; eat plants relatively low in vitamin C; and/or eat too much sugar, which competes for Vitamin C for entry into cells. A
very severe deficiency in Vitamin C causes the disease scurvy. A person suffering from scurvy stops making collagen; and as a result, his
or her body, lacking the ability to repair and build new connective tissue, simply falls apart.
Heart and Vascular Disease as Chronic Low-grade Scurvy
Linus Pauling stated that the cause of death of fifty percent of scurvy patients is ruptured blood vessels. Collagen is needed to repair
weakened and damaged blood vessels—to prevent them from rupturing. Pauling hypothesized that there are many different degrees of
severity of the disease. He believed that vascular disease may actually be a form of chronic low-grade scurvy.
Vitamin C Deficiency and Plaque
Normal daily wear and tear, including also stress, exercise and pollutants, all degrade the integrity of blood vessel walls. This is
especially true of the blood vessels of the heart and brain. But when adequate amounts of vitamin C and L-lysine are consumed, the
body is able to use them to synthesize collagen, and thus, repair and strengthen weakened or damaged blood vessels. (L-lysine is an
essential amino acid, which means it must be obtained from a protein-rich diet or supplementation. Our bodies synthesize L-proline and
L-glycine.)
Studies published by Pauling have shown that, to repair blood vessels in the absence of adequate amounts of vitamin C, the body
compensates by manufacturing a protein called “lipoprotein-a”. Lipoprotein-a is a major component of the plaque found in the blood
vessels of atherosclerosis patients. Atherosclerosis is a general term used to describe the hardening of the arteries due to plaque.
Plaque is used to glue together the damaged areas of blood vessels. The build-up of plaque in the blood vessels may, over time, lead to
plaque ruptures and narrowing of the arteries, or to an aneurysm. The effects of plaque build-up are a direct cause of heart attacks and
strokes. Animals that are able to manufacture high levels of L-ascorbic acid have been found to have very little lipoprotein-a in their
blood.
Vitamin C and Vascular Health
The good news for suffers of atherosclerosis, however, is that when vitamin C is made available in adequate amounts, it has been
shown not only to dissolve plaque-formations caused from previous deficiencies in the vitamin, but also to repair and strengthen the
same blood vessels that were glued together with (the now dissolved) plaque. Furthermore, since vitamin C is an anti-oxidant,
neutralizing free-radicals, it will also help to prevent further damage to blood vessel walls due to oxidative stress.
Pauling was convinced that high doses of vitamin C can help prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease, inhibiting the formation of
disease-promoting lesions on blood vessel walls and perhaps decreasing the production of lipoprotein-a in the blood. He wrote that
there are two main reasons why larger amounts of vitamin C than are present in the plants we use as food are needed to maintain
optimal vascular health. First, the body has a continuous need to synthesize large amounts of collagen for growth and for replacement
of the collagen degraded by daily wear and tear. Second, in the critical reactions that assemble collagen in the tissues, vitamin C does
not serve merely as a catalyst of the reaction—it is destroyed. In other words, vitamin C cannot be reused after being synthesized to
form collagen. It may be added, too, that vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, and thus, cannot be stored in the body for long periods of
time.
Other Roles of Vitamin C in Health
Aside from its role in the synthesis of collagen, it is well-known that vitamin C is necessary to maintain a healthy immune system; and
may also, as recent research indicates, help prevent and cure cancer. In fact, studies abound on the possible benefits of vitamin C in
helping to treat or mitigate a wide number of diseases and disorders.
Pauling's Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin C
The current U.S. Recommended Daily Intake for Vitamin C is between 60 and 90 milligrams. Pauling recommended that people take daily
doses of vitamin C much greater than this. Though the need for vitamin will probably vary greatly from person-to-person, Pauling
recommended people take between 5-10 grams of vitamin C a day—this dosage being on par with primates that consume L-ascorbic
acid as part of their diet. Pauling himself started by taking daily doses of vitamin C of 3 grams in the 1960s. By the 1990s he had
increased his daily doses to 18 grams. He lived into his 90s.
Since Vitamin C is water-soluble it is better to take the doses spread out through the day. It is best taken before or with a meal. The
amino acid L-lysine can only be obtained from the a protein-rich diet or directly from supplements. Since L-proline and L-glycine are
manufactured by the body supplementation is not necessary. When high levels of vitamin C and L-lysine supplements are taken
together, as a means to deliberately encourage the production of collagen to heal weakened or damaged blood vessels or reverse
atherosclerosis, this is called “Pauling Therapy”. The ratio of Vitamin C : L-lysine Pauling recommended is 3:1 or 3:2.
Cautions on Vitamin C Supplementation
Vitamin C has been found to exhibit low toxicity. Studies indicate Pauling's own dosage of 18 grams per day to be well below the toxicity
threshold. However, large-scale research on the intake of large doses of vitamin C by humans has not yet been conducted.
When taking any supplement be wary of the additional ingredients contained in it. This is especially true if you intend to take high levels
of vitamin C and/or L-lysine. Avoid supplements that contain magnesium stearate. This chemical is chalk—the same chalk your teacher
would use to write your assignments on the blackboard! Supplements that include soy oil, or safflower oil, usually contain a high level of
pesticides and should be avoided. Also avoid supplements that have titanium dioxide as this is known to cause auto-immune disorders.
The purest vitamin C known to the author is sold in powder form by The Vitamin C Foundation. The purest L-lysine known to the author
is sold in powder form by the company NOW.
References
Pauling, Linus (1986), How to Live Longer and Feel Better, Oregon State University Press.
Williams, Roger J. (1971), Nutrition Against Disease, Bantam Books.
Mercola.com
Vitamincfoundation.org
Vrp.com (Vitamin Research Products)
Healingdaily.com
| ~February 10, 2009~ |