Hello ageing bionet readers,
There has been much written about Vitamin C and its benefits but
much of the material lacks real coherence.
Based on my analysis of my experience with insect bites and allergy
tests and a number of literature readings, I believe I have reached some
interesting conclusions.
Much has been written about how other animals produce Vitamin C
but that a few like humans, primates and I believe guinea pigs do not.
These last lack some of the enzymes needed for the liver to produce the
Vitamin C. For what purpose do these animals produce Vitamin C? My
analysis suggests that it energizes components of the immune system such
as the macrophages. However, in the process of dispersion to the immune
system, it is also dissipated, and its effectiveness gradually disappears.
Some recent studies show that ingested Vitamin C disappears from plasma
in less than 12 hours. I suspect the loss of effectiveness is coincident
with the disappearance from plasma. If our liver was continuously pro-
ducing Vitamin C, all would be dandy. As a substitute, we can take doses
distributed through the day. Three doses, eight hours apart or four doses
roughly 6 hours apart should work. Interestingly, the cold researcher,
Elliot Dick gave his test subjects 500 mg four times a day. In that study,
while it did not prevent getting a cold, it significantly reduced the
duration and severity of the symptoms. Articles on his test praised the
benefit of Vitamin C but did not attach significance to the distribution
of the dosages. An attack on the respiratory system involves a large
internal area to defend, as a result of which many of the symptoms of a
good defense resemble a poor defense. In an attack on the skin, such
as an insect bite, the Vitamin C energized immune system is particularly
effective. You feel the sting and it may hurt for a few days, but any
effects are tightly contained to the location of the sting. When your
immune system is not energized, you may not feel the sting but you may
get a systemic reaction that can be life-threatening.
This last benefit can be particularly useful in preventing any
adverse reaction to a subcutaneous or intramuscular vaccination. In this
instance, one need only take a dose of Vitamin C enough time before the
shot so that the immune system is energized. I was particularly reminded
of this on hearing of the doctors who are volunteering to test an AIDS
vaccine with partially live virus. I believe they could greatly improve
the safety of the test by taking a dose of Vitamin C beforehand.
This also suggests a greater danger from oral vaccines or anything
injected directly into the blood. Using a subcutaneous or intramuscular
vaccination along with Vitamin C provides a strategic advantage to the
immune system.
All this suggests that for general health, distributed dosage
rather than single massive dosage is better. Of course for a single
event, such as a flu shot, only one prior dose is required.
I would be interested in any comments. My email address is
"internet:73071.20 at compuserve.com".
Regards, Ralph
