Miracles From Vitamin C

I keep researching vitamin C in regards to health benefits and YES even miracles. I am still unsettled on exactly what is the BEST form of Vitamin C to take. My understanding is that NONE of them are bad per se and taking almost any form of Vitamin C is better than NOT being on it at all.

If you are going to follow Dr. Linus Pauling's protocol in his Vitamin C regimen for combating heart disease and maintaining clear arteries and overall health, you can consider Ascorbic Acid in powder form as offered by the Vitamin C foundation and Tower labs formulas, or C-salts as recommended by Dr. Weil or Liposomal Vitamin C.

NONE of them are bad choices. The Vitamin C and Tower lab's formulas are more or less complete in that they contain powdered vitamin C, and the amino acids Lysine and Proline along with other nutrients making then somewhat of a complete formula to follow the "Unified Theory" of heart disease and the cure for heart disease. The C-salts will require you to ADD Lysine and Proline, as does the Liposomal vitamin C whether purchased on line or made yourself at home. The article below is very lengthy, however also very informative. Dan

Here is an article I came across that I found very interesting:

http://open.salon.com/blog/jeffrey_dach_md/2010/10/20/vitamin_c_saves_dyingman_by_jeffrey_dach_md

EXCERPTS:

OCTOBER 20, 2010 7:02PM

Vitamin C Saves Dying Man by Jeffrey Dach MD

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Vitamin C Saves Life of Man Dying of Viral Pneumonia by Jeffrey Dach MD

The Allan Smith Story, a TV Documentary from New Zealand

Allan Smith, a New Zealand Dairy farmer, contracted Swine Flu while away on vacation in Fiji.  When he returned home, the flu quickly evolved into severe pneumonia which left him in a coma on Life Support in the Intensive Care Unit.  Chest Xrays showed the lungs were completely filled with fluid with an "opaque" appearance called "white out".  After three weeks of this, Allan's doctors asked the family permission to turn off the machines and let him die.  Allan's wife Sonia had a brother with some medical knowledge, so he stepped in and said, "you haven't tried everything, You have got to try high dose IV vitamin C on Allan".  At first, the doctors resisted, saying it was useless. Next, the three sons weighed in with a persuasive argument to try the IV vitamin C, saying there was nothing to lose.

Left image: IV Bag with Vitamin C, Courtesy of wikimedia Commons.

Doctors Agree to Try IV Vitamin C

The Doctors were in unanimous agreement that IV Vitamin C would be useless and a waste of time, and that the patient will certainly die.  However,  one doctor "felt slightly uneasy" with the decision to turn off life support, without first acceding to the family's wishes,  and so they reluctantly agreed to give the IV Vitamin C.  Their plan was to give the IV Vitamin C, show it was useless, and then turn off life support.Dramatic Recovery
That day, Allan Smith was given 25 grams of IV Vitamin C in the evening and another 25 grams in the morning.  The next day, a CAT scan of the lungs showed improving air flow and a few days later the Chest Xrays showed the lungs were no longer white, indicating air movement. The improvement was dramatic, clear and plain for all to see.  However, the doctors denied it was the Vitamin C, and instead, attributed the improvement to "turning patient into a prone position".

Another Battle For Vitamin C

Soon after starting the IV vitamin C, Alan could be taken off ECMO life support, and started breathing on his own.  However, unexpectedly, a different physician consultant came in, took over the case and stopped the IV vitamin C.  Alan Smith's condition promptly deteriorated.  Allan's wife, Sonia,  called a meeting with this new doctor to no avail.  The new doctor rolled his eyes, looked up at the ceiling and uttered, "No More Vitamin C ".  Not giving up so easily, the three brothers again weighed in, and demanding the IV vitamin C for dad.  The three brothers again used their powers of "persuasion", and the new doctors reluctantly gave in, restarting the life saving IV vitamin C, but only at low doses of one gram a day.  The brothers said, "Mucking about with the Vitamin C showed in his fathers health".  "You had to be thick not to see it."

Left upper image: Vitamin C molecule chemical structure,Courtesy of wikimedia Commons.

Oral Lyposperic Vitamin C 

Allan's condition continued to improve and was eventually transferred to a hospital closer to home, still breathing with ventilator assistance.  Here, the family had yet another battle with a new doctor who again stopped the IV Vitamin C.  This time. the family brought in a lawyer who sent a warning letter to the hospital threatening legal action.  The hospital was forced to restart the vitamin C, however, allowing only low dosage.  Finally, Allan Smith was able to sit up in bed and take oral liquids.   On their own, the family gave dad 6 grams a day of oral vitamin C.  This was a highly absorbable form called Lypo-spheric C from LivOn Labs .  Allan continued to improve and was discharged home from the hospital.  At home, Allan's neighbor John joked with him, and said, "Allan, you owe me the 15 dollars I paid to have my suit dry cleaned for your funeral, and you bugger, you came back."  They laughed together at the joke.

Vitamin C and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Every day I find more and more ailments and conditions that seem to respond favorably to Vitamin C therapy. I recently came across this article on intravenous vitamin C and help with arthritis. It MAKES ME WONDER if the LIPOSOMAL vitamin C taken orally might have a similar effect? Just speculation on my part at this point, however the Liposomal vitamin C  is absorbed quickly into the blood stream and it certainly couldn't hurt, though it may NOT have the same benefit for arthritis.

Let's take a look:

http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_online-exclusives/2013-01-17/vitamin-c-proves-promising-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/

EXCERPT:

Vitamin C Proves Promising for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Riordan Clinic scientists find high dose of intravenous vitamin C eases the pain and inflammation associated with the major inflammatory joint disease.

By Joanna Cosgrove, Online Editor

Published January 17, 2013

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating inflammatory joint disease that affects about 1.3 million adults in the U.S. Though the exact causes of RA are still unknown, the disease triggers an abnormal immune reaction that destroys cartilage and joint linings, and erodes bone. In severe cases, it can also lead to rheumatoid nodules, vasculitis, heart disease, lung disease, anemia and peripheral neuropathy. But a new pilot study published in the Journal of Modern Research in Inflammation by researchers at the Riordan Clinic in Wichita, KA, found that high dose vitamin C delivered intravenously can have a beneficial effect on RA-associated inflammation and pain.  

Dr. Nina Mikirova, senior research scientist at the Riordan Clinic, explained that oxidative stress is elevated in RA patients, which implies that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are present as possible mediators of tissue damage. ROS trigger a cascade of events through nuclear factors' activation, which up-regulates gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines that mediate the immune responses causing inflammation. In short, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress can protect cartilage as it regenerates within the joint. Control of inflammation is also important when it comes to the reduction of cardiovascular risk.

The Riordan Clinic has studied the use of highly concentrated ascorbic acid to treat illnesses associated with inflammation, including cancer, atherosclerosis and viral infections for decades. According to the researchers, at high doses, vitamin C has been shown to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. “Ascorbic acid has other properties that suggest it may be useful in treating rheumatoid arthritis: it is an antioxidant that scavenges ROS and it supports collagen formation and enhances extracellular matrix protein synthesis,” they wrote.

What’s more, researchers found RA patients tended to be vitamin C deficient and required supplementation in high doses in order to maintain acceptable plasma vitamin C levels. In addition to low vitamin C levels in the blood, the researchers said studies have shown below-normal ascorbic acid concentrations have also been observed in the synovial fluid of RA patients.

Dr. Mikirova told Nutraceuticals World she wasn’t entirely surprised at the results her team’s new research into RA yielded. “When administered at much higher–than-recommended dietary allowance levels, vitamin C has been suggested of having both a preventative and therapeutic role in a number of pathologies, including cancer, atherosclerosis and viral infections, so we expected that high dosages of vitamin C can be beneficial in treatment of RA,” she said. “Hallmarks of RA pathology are chronic inflammation and pronounced synovial hyperplasia. In addition, oxidative stress is elevated in RA patients implying reactive oxygen species are possible mediators of tissue damage. The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines due to chronic inflammation is a substantial feature of this disease.”

She went on to explain how her previous work has dovetailed with her current work on RA. “It is well known that vitamin C is essential for the building of collagen, the most abundant protein built in our bodies and the major component of connective tissue, and as antioxidant,” she said. “In our previous study of the effect of intravenous high dose vitamin C on the level of inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines, we demonstrated that vitamin C suppresses the release of inflammatory cytokines and decrease the inflammation in cancer patients (Journal of Translational Medicine, 2012, 10:189). So, we expected that the same treatment would have an effect on inflammation in patients with RA.”  

The RA patients in the Riordan Clinic study were characterized by moderate to high levels of the inflammation marker CRP, which indicated moderate to severe discomfort levels. “The effect of intravenous vitamin C (IVC) treatment on subjects with RA demonstrated that IVC therapy with dosages of 7.5 g-50g can reduce inflammation and the pain levels,” the researchers wrote. “The inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein levels was decreased on average by 44%. The average CRP level before treatment was 9.4 +/- 4.6 mg/L, while the average after IVC therapy was 6.4 +/- 4.6 mg/L. Examining those subjects who showed a net CRP decrease, we found that the effect of treatment is IVC frequency dependent.”

When asked if there were specific properties that made vitamin C a more preferable treatment option to other antioxidants, Dr. Mikirova acknowledged the use of other alternative medicine therapy treatments and nutritional adjustment practices. “Some, such as gamma-linolenic acid, fish oil, antioxidants and other supplementations have shown some possibility of benefit for RA, but a very limited number of controlled intervention trials have been conducted to evaluate dietary supplementation with antioxidants in RA development,” she said. “Several studies with vitamin E supplementation, selenium-enriched yeast supplementation, fatty acids, micronutrients and antioxidant supplementations demonstrated improvements but not significant clinical benefits. In the study with antioxidant supplementation, the level of vitamin C was only three to five times higher than recommended daily allowance.”

“We suggest the treatment should be by intravenous high dose vitamin C, as the in vitro experiments demonstrate that only high dose vitamin C can suppress activation of nuclear factor (NF-kB), which mediates the production of many pro-inflammatory cytokines,” she continued. “The effect requires millimolar concentrations of vitamin C [attainable via intravenous infusions].”

While the Riordan Clinic’s RA pilot study yielded promising results, the researchers acknowledged more research is warranted. “Our pilot study was based on the results of treatment on patients with RA at Riordan Clinic [who] had different intervals between IVC treatments and different numbers of treatments,” said Dr. Mikirova. “We think the results should be supported by the study on a larger population of RA patients with a standardized protocol of treatment and more detailed analyses of inflammation markers and patients’ conditions.”    

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread916725/pg1

EXCERPT:



A VITAMIN C DEFICIENY CAN CAUSE DEATH!



FOOD AND LIFE YEARBOOK 1939 – USDA:


"…when there is not a single outward symptom of trouble, a person may be in a state of vitamin C deficiency more dangerous than scurvy itself.

When such a condition is not detected, and continues uncorrected, the teeth and bones will be damaged, and what may be even more serious, the blood stream is weakened to the point where it can no longer resist or fight infections not so easily cured as scurvy.

It is true that without these infinitesimal amounts myriads of body processes would deteriorate and even come to a fatal halt.

Its neutralizing action on certain toxins, exotoxins, virus infections, endotoxins and histamine is in direct proportion to the amount of the lethal factor involved and the amount of ascorbic acid given.”


www.orthomed.com... 

Yes, that read “vitamin C deficiency can be fatal”

“The number of bacteria that each white blood cell digests is directly related to the ascorbic acid content of the blood. This is one of the reasons why a lack of ascorbic acid in the body produces lowered resistance to infectious diseases.” 

vitamincfoundation.org... 

COMMON SIGNS OF VITAMIN C DEFICENCY:

Allergies to drugs, foods, plants 
Anemia 
Asthma 
Brittle & painful bones 
Cancer 
Chronic infections 
Decreased ability to ward off infection 
Decreased pain tolerance 
Decreased wound-healing rate 
Depression 
Dry and splitting hair 
Ear Infections 
Easy bruising 
Failure to cope with stress 
Fatigue 
Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and bleeding gums 
Hemorrhoids 
Hernias 
High Blood pressure 
Muscle Spasms 
Nosebleeds 
Rheumatoid arthritis 
Rough, dry, scaly skin 
Senility 
Stretch marks 
Swollen and painful joints 
Varicose Veins 
Weakened tooth enamel and loose teeth 
Weight Gain 
Wrinkles 
… and more 

UNCOMMON SIGNS OF VITAMIN C DEFICENCY:

Guillain Barr Syndromes 
Reyes Syndrome 
Rheumatic Fever 
Scarlett Fever 
Disorders of the Blood 

www.orthomed.com... 

www.nlm.nih.gov... 

www.umm.edu... 

www.livestrong.com... 

WHY YOU NEED LARGE DOSES OF VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is a cofactor in at least eight enzymatic (large molecules responsible for thousands of chemical interconversions that sustain life. 

Reactions including collagen, which supports tendons, ligaments and skin, and is also abundant in cornea, cartilage, bone, blood vessels, the gut, and intervertebral disc. 

… there are many tissues that maintain vitamin C concentrations far higher than in blood. 

Biological tissues that accumulate over 100 times the level in blood plasma of vitamin C are the adrenal glands, pituitary, thymus, corpus luteum, and retina.[39] 

Those with 10 to 50 times the concentration present in blood plasma include the brain, spleen, lung, testicle, lymph nodes, liver, thyroid, small intestinal mucosa, leukocytes, pancreas, kidney and salivary glands. 

en.wikipedia.org... 

YOUR BRAIN ON VITAMIN C:

Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant molecule in the brain. However, it also has a number of other important functions, participating as a co-factor in several enzyme reactions… 

The highest concentrations of ascorbate in the body are found in the brain and neuroendocrine tissues such as adrenal, although the brain is the most difficult organ to deplete of ascorbate. 

Combined with regional asymmetry in ascorbate distribution within different brain areas, these facts suggest an important role for ascorbate in the brain. 

Ascorbate is proposed as a neuromodulator of glutamatergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic and GABAergic transmission and related behaviors. 

Neurodegenerative diseases typically involve high levels of oxidative stress and thus ascorbate has been posited to have potential therapeutic roles against ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntingdon's disease. 

The functions of ascorbate in the CNS and brain are numerous. Essentially effecting neurotransmitters, dopamine and glutamate (learning and memory transmitters) cholinergic receptor (addictions). 

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... 

BODY TISSUE THAT NEED HIGH LEVELS OF VIAMIN C:

Adrenal Glands – Release hormones in response to stress and affect kidney function. 

Thyroid Glands – Controls how the body uses energy, makes protein and regulates metabolism. 
The adrenal glands and the thyroid gland are the organs that have the greatest blood supply per gram of tissue. This may be one of the reasons lung cancer commonly metastasizes to the adrenals. 

Pituitary - secretes nine hormones that regulate homeostasis that regulates PH, glucose, body temperature and the regulation of many bodily systems. 

Thymus – Educates T-Cells which are critical to the immune system, 

Corpus luteum – Involves the production of progesterone which is essential for establishing and maintaining pregnancy in females. 

RETINA - We found that cells in the retina need to be 'bathed' in relatively high doses of vitamin C, inside and out, to function properly,” said Henrique von Gersdorff, Ph.D., a senior scientist at OHSU's Vollum Institute and a co-author of the study. “Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there's likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before.” (*1) 

SPLEEN The spleen performs several important jobs such as preventing infection, destroying damaged blood cells and storing red blood cells and platelets. Certain vitamins play a role in keeping the spleen functioning properly. vitamin C helps your body to absorb iron, which reduces the chances of you developing anemia and an enlarged spleen. (*7) 

MORE INFO on Vitamin C Recommendations

I came across another IN DEPTH article on Vitamin C giving special attention to many of the known benefits of Vitamin C and taking a look at low doseage of vitamin C (vs.) MEGA DOSES. I found this interesting and informative. Dan

Matthew 11:1-6

King James Version (KJV)

11 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

http://www.healthy-diet-healthy-you.com/Benefits_of_Vitamin_C.html

Limited Excerpts from a LENGTHY ARTICLE - please click on the link to read the entire article.

EXCERPT:


The US Government’s Recommended Dietary Allowance

The US government’s recommended Dietary Allowance( RDA’s) per day are as follows:
0-6 month - 40 mg
7-12 months - 50 mg
1-3 years - 15 mg
4-8 years - 25 mg
9-13 years - 45 mg
14-18 years - 75 mg for men; 65 mg for women; 70 mg for pregnancy; 115 mg for lactation
19+ years - 90 mg for men; 75 mg for women; 85 mg for pregnancy; 120 mg for lactation

For those who smoke, an additional 35 mg per day is recommended.

NB. These figures increased somewhat in 2000.

The Opposing View to the RDA’s – The Benefits of Vitamin C Megadoses

As mentioned, some experts recommend mega-doses to achieve the benefits of vitamin C.

The Vitamin C Foundation, a proponent of large dose vitamin C supplements for maintaining health and preventing disease, suggests the following vitamin C intake:

•  3,000 mg per day for every man, woman and child over 3 years.

•  6,000 mg per day during pregnancy.

•  20,000 to 300,000 mg per day during disease periods.

When you look at dietary sources of vitamin C, it becomes readily apparent that achieving the above intakes of Vitamin C would be difficult, if not impossible via food alone. Vitamin C supplements are necessary to achieve this intake.

A Middle Ground for Vitamin C Supplements in order to get the Benefits of Vitamin C

There is a body of experts who, when it comes to recommended daily intake of vitamin C,  take a middle ground between the US government’s and the high dose expert’s position.

We’ll use the Linus Pauling Institute’s recommendations as an example of this school.

Linus Pauling Institute recommends the following:

• 400 mg daily  for young healthy adults for disease prevention, with those who are older or suffering from certain disease possibly requiring “substantially large amounts of vitamin C”.

While not impossible, to get this maintenance amount via food alone if following a healthy balanced diet, many would have to take Vitamin C supplements to achieve the above intake.

Dr. Klenner’s Therapeutic Doses of Vitamin C - . Body Weight Vitamin C Per Day # of Doses Individual Dose 100 kg (220 lbs), 35,000 mg, 17-18 times per day, 2,000 mg per dose 75 kg (165 kg), 26,000, 17-18 times per day, 1,500 mg per dose 50 kg (110kg), 18,000 mg, 18 times per day, 1,000mg per dose 25 kg (55lbs), 9,000 mg, 18 times per day, 500 mg per dose 12.7 kg (28 lbs), 4,500 mg, 9 times per day, 500 mg per dose 7 kg (15.5 lbs), 2,300 mg, 9 times per day, 250 mg per dose 3.5 kg (15.5lbs), 1,200 mg, 9 times per day, 130-135 mg per dose

Missing the Benefits of Vitamin C – The Downside  of too Much Vitamin C.  Are there any?
We’ve talked about the downside to  too little vitamin C. What are the health risks, if any, from too much?
Generally, vitamin C is an extremely safe vitamin. The main side effect, as mentioned, is diarrhea  which is dose related. When you decrease intake of C, the symptoms go away.
Because  of its water soluble nature where excess is excreted in urine, it is hard to get too much vitamin C. Nevertheless, some have raised concerns about vitamin C supplements.

• Excess Iron Absorption – Vitamin C improves the absorption of non-heme iron (iron from plant foods like spinach as opposed to iron from animal products) . While sufficient iron stores are essential for proper immune function, too much can act as an oxidant and create havoc in the body. There is a theoretical concern that the body could absorb  too much iron, in the event of excess vitamin C intake.   Individuals with hemochromatosis, a genetic condition that disposes a person to excess iron, should consult their health care provider before supplementing vitamin C.   By contrast, some experts believe that vitamin C’s  antioxidant function cancels the risk of excess iron stores in the body.

• Kidney Stones -  There is a theoretical concern about excess vitamin C promoting kidney stones, however the evidence doesn’t support this. A review of the research by the New York Academy of Sciences shows kidney stones and vitamin C supplementation are not a problem. As a precaution, ensure you drink sufficient water when taking vitamin C supplements.

• Vitamin C as a pro-oxidant – Some experts speculate that in very large doses vitamin C may act as  pro-oxidant – generating free radicals instead of quenching them. Because of this, it could interfere with certain chemotherapy drugs. Best to discuss vitamin C supplementation with your doctor when dealing with a specific health conditions like cancer.

Another View On Heart Disease by Jeffrey Dach MD

I realize I am doing a lot of blog posts on Heart Disease and the Unified Theory of same as put forth by Linus Pauling. I feel it is an issue that sooner or later will be very interesting to a large number of type 2 diabetics as it is statistics bear out a close relationship between (out of control) type 2 diabetes and heart disease. When you factor in stress, smoking, lack of exercise, genetics, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated or fractionated oils the link is TOO BIG to ignore.

Try and remember as your read these posts that we are talking about ONE MILLION plus people a year having heart attacks in the USA alone and approximately 60% of those are FATAL.

(I praise the LORD above that HE used traditional medicine including EKG's, nuclear EKG's, Heart Cath's and heart surgery to very possibly SAVE MY LIFE. Without the quadruple bypass surgery and despite my concept of myself as INVINCIBLE and without any symptoms or chest pain, shortness of breath etc. I could have dropped on my nose one day walking down the sidewalk. I UNDERSTAND, RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THAT FACT....I really, really do and I am GRATEFUL FOR THE SURGERY.)

That being said, if the information I have put in the last 10 or 12 blog posts I have done concerning Linus Paulings USA Patent in 1994 for the CURE of heart disease utilizing vitamin C, L-lysine and L-Proline had been WIDELY AVAILABLE AND recognized and discussed with patients over the last 15 or 20 years, I VERY LIKELY would not have needed bypass surgery and my arteries would have been clear. I also have a great deal of respect for the surgeons who do these bypass operations.  I honestly feel the majority of these surgeon's are honest, dedicated, kind, caring, hard working individuals. The same can be said for the cardiologists' and every one of their staff members from the receptionist to the nurses, nurses aides and everyone working in the medical field. My problem lies more with those that are purposefully working behind the scenes to cover up the work done by Linus Pauling and others because of a PROFIT MOTIVE (I.E 30 billion dollars a year from Precription drugs)

I am well aware that Dr. Linus Pauling and Dr. Matthias Rath and others have their critics, however from what I have read most information criticizing the cure of heart disease with supplementation of mega does of Vitamin C, lysine and proline are sponsored by Big pharma or those who have a financial interest in perpetuating that cholesterol is YOUR ENEMY, and everyone needs to be on STATIN DRUGS including school children, etc. I have even read in print where it is being suggested that statins be put in community water supplies. In addition most of these studies I have looked at do NOT follow the recommendations of Linus Pauling or Matthias Rath in doseage requirements. In my most recent post of a study performed and sponsored by Big Pharma, less than 1/16 of the Vitamin C doesage was used to try and disprove that Vitamin C had any redeeming value above the 60 mg dose to prevent scurvy in sailors out to sea for extended periods.

In addition Vitamin C is a nutrient based supplement which your body NEEDS and can assimilate. The same can be said for L-Lysine which is an essential amino acid and L-Proline which is a non-essential amino acid (since your body can make it). Humans unlike animals do not produce their own vitamin C, like animals do. Most drugs including statins come with a LONG LIST of side effects, some of them fatal or crippling in nature. They are also NOT a natural product and readily digested by the human body and therefore alter your digestive tract or do other possible damage to one or more organs such as your liver, pancreas, kidneys etc. (DRUGS are a foreign substance in your system). My understanding is that Vitamin C comes with a warning sign too.......if you ingest too much, you might get diarrhea and if you then back down the amount of vitamin C ingested, the diarrhea goes away. I CAN LIVE WITH THAT. That side effect is what I would personally call the SHORT LIST. If you google Lipitor side effects, you can quickly count TWENTY SEVEN of them in about 12 seconds. The side effects list then has a disclaimer that this list is NOT COMPLETE. I suspect it is because they simply do not know what else it may do inside your body. It is an open ended scenario. By the way, guess what?...........diarrhea is also on the list of side effects with Lipitor. OOPS, I forgot to mention the 1-800-BAD DRUG ads on TV......IF you are a post menopausal female and have been taking lipitor, it just might give you Type 2 diabetes. Better make that short list in 12 seconds 28 SIDE EFFECTS.


Following is another LINK along these lines:

The article is VERY LONG, so I have only copied a portion of it here. It is also VERY INFORMATIVE so I urge you to open the link and read it for yourself. REMEMBER, I am not a doctor, and have no formal medical training of any kind. I am a recent quadruple bypass heart surgery survivor. I am passing along research and information I have found to be fascinating for anyone who would like to have an alternative approach to the status quo statin drugs, blood thinners, cholesterol is your enemy information put out by BIG PHARMA and the medical community at large. You decide for yourself. Dan

http://www.drdach.com/Heart_Disease.html

EXCERPTS:

Jeffrey Dach MD   BLOG   Newsletter  Book TrueMedMD. 

Natural Solutions with Bio Identical Hormones 

Heart Disease, Ascorbate, Lysine and Linus Pauling by Jeffrey Dach MD

Heart Disease, Ascorbate, Lysine and Linus Pauling by Jeffrey Dach MD

The Steam Roller is Not Joking

I once had a conversation with a cardiologist friend of mine in which I casually mentioned the Linus Pauling Theory of heart disease, and the subsequent idea that a non-toxic nutritional supplement program with vitamin C and a few amino acids could prevent and reverse heart disease.  The response from my cardiologist friend was hearty laughter that anyone would even suggest such a nonsensical idea, and surely you must be joking?

left image: courtesy wikimedia, roadroller

My cardiologist friend and the rest of the mainstream medical system has no clue about the steamroller (above image) coming to health care aiming right at the huge profits from diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, a multi billion dollar industry in the US.

The Cardiac Cath Lab and Cardiac Bypass Surgery Program will be flattened, the first casualties of the internet medical information revolution providing information about a safe and cheap supplement program to reverse heart disease called the Linus Pauling Protocol.  Time has come for the old dinosaurs to go.  In the near future, thanks to Linus Pauling, heart disease will become a curiosity of the past, like the disappearance of gastric ulcers after the invention of antacids and antibiotics.

The Linus Pauling Protocol - Vitamin C
Vitamin C Deficiency Has  Major Impact on Collagen ProductionVitamin C is required to make a protein called collagen which is the major component of connective tissues.  The lack of Vitamin C is a deficiency disease called Scurvy.

Why is Collagen Important ?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body.  It is the  structural protein used to make connective tissues, bones, teeth, hair, and arteries.  Strong collagen is important for a strong body.

Left image: "Unraveling Collagen", Stainless Steel, height: 11 feet Julian Voss-Andreae, Orange Memorial Park Sculpture Garden, City of South San Francisco, CA. 5/10/2006. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons  

Vitamin C Deficiency Results in Absent Lysine Crosslinking on Collagen
Vitamin C is required for strong collagen.  How does this work? Vitamin C is required for lysyl hydroxylase, an enzyme responsible for attaching the lysine residues together on adjacent collagen strands. (see diagram below) Vitamin C deficiency results in weakened collagen strands caused by disrupted lysine crosslinking. The resulting weakened collagen results in a widespread problems in the connective tissues, bones, teeth, skin, hair, arteries, etc.

Steps in Collagen Synthesis (see diagram below Courtesy of Wikimedia)

How are the fibrils crosslinked?  This is done with Lysine residues (see below diagram)

Fibril Cross Linking with Lysine and Lysyl Oxydase (see diagram below)

Above image courtesy of wikimedia commons  lysyl oxidase.

Above image shows three steps in attachment of two fibrils (collagen strands) by combining two lysine molecules with the help of an enzyme lysine hydroxylase which requires vitamin C.

Full Blown Scurvy - Collagen Falls Apart

In the full blown Vitamin C deficiency disease called Scurvy, the structural elements of the body literally fall apart.  Collagen is broken down and not replaced. The joints wear out, the small arteries begin to crack and degenerate, the skin shows easy bruising and bleeding as small vessels rupture throughout the body, and the teeth may loosen and fall out. 

Linus Pauling: Heart Disease is a Chronic Scurvy Condition

Linus Pauling was unquestionably the greatest scientist of the twentieth century. All of modern biochemistry and molecular biology chemistry is based on Linus Pauling's work, especially his discovery and elucidation of the chemical bond.  Pauling is the only scientist to be awarded two unshared Nobel prizes.  

Pauling's later years were devoted to heart disease, and in 1989 he published "A Unified Theory of Human Cardiovascular Disease,"  in which he states that atherosclerotic plaques in heart disease are actually part of a repair process, to repair the arterial damage caused by chronic vitamin C deficiency. 

Left Image: Linus Pauling Courtesy of Wikimedia
In essence, Pauling said that heart disease is a manifestation of chronic scurvy, and atherosclerotic plaque is a mechanism evolved to repair or patch blood vessels and arteries damaged by chronic vitamin C deficiency.  Linus Pauling also said that atherosclerotic plaque formation can be prevented or reversed with vitamin C, lysine and proline.  These are nutritional supplements available at any health food store for a few dollars.

Atherosclerotic Plaques Contain LipoProtein (a)
Plaque deposits found in human aortas are made up of a form of cholesterol called lipoprotein (a) also called Lp(a).

Atherosclerotic Plaques Are Found at Maximal Mechanical Stress
Atherosclerotic plaques are not found randomly distributed throughout the arterial tree, rather distribution is restricted to sites of high mechanical stress such as bifurcations, and areas of motion such as the surface of the heart (coronary arteries). In the early 1950's, a Canadian, G. C. Willis, MD, made these same observations, and they have been confirmed by 60 years of coronary and peripheral arteriography at major medical centers.  

Exposed Lysine Crosslinks from Damaged Collagen is Site of LipoProtein (a) attachment and Plaque Formation

Imagine stepping on your garden hose a thousand times a day.  You will soon notice cracks in the wall of the garden hose.  This is the same process that happens in the artery.  As these  cracks open up, the collagen strands in the wall of the artery are teased apart.  The triple helix collagen strands are normally bound together with lysine crosslinks which are now teased apart and exposed to the circulating blood stream. 

left Image: Lysine courtesy of WIkimedia 
The Lysine residues look like little flags waving from the damaged collagen strand.  The exposed Lysine strands are available for binding to circulating Lipoprotein (a), a special form of cholesterol that has lysine receptors, and is known to increase heart disease risk.  This attachment of lipoprotein(a) to the free lysine residues of damaged collagen initiates the atherosclerotic process.  Over time, this process builds larger plaque deposits which eventually narrow the inner diameter of the artery causing a blockage, or leads to plaque rupture and thrombosis, a catastrophic event which may cause heart attack or sudden death.

Animal experiments in genetically modified mice which have "knocked out" the lysine binding sites on lipoprotein (a) show a fivefold reduction in atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Can You Make Vitamin C ? No You Can'tWe humans cannot make vitamin C in our liver as all other animals do.  We humans had a genetic mutation in our ancestry 50 million years ago which "knocked out" the final enzyme in the hepatic synthesis of vitamin C.  The missing enzyme is called GLO (gulano lactone oxidase).  Primates such as gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans also share this same GLO mutation and cannot make vitamin C.  In adddition all primates share with humans susceptibility to heart disease.

Above Image Vitamin C, a simple ring structure simikar to glucose, Ascorbate Courtesy of Wikimedia

All Animals Can Make Vitamin C, but the Guinea Pig Can't 
Except for humans and primates, all other animals have the three enzymes in the liver which can synthesize vitamin C from glucose (a simple sugar). One major exception is the guinea pig, which is really a rodent and not a pig,  The guinea pig, for some unexplained reason, shares with humans the identical GLO genetic mutation and also lacks the GLO enzyme just like we do.  This makes the guinea pig an ideal experimental model for human diseases.  By the way, although animals that make vitamin C never get heart disease, the guinea pig which lacks the ability to synthesize vitamin C, also gets heart disease.

Animals That Make Vitamin C,  Don't Get Atherosclerotic Heart Disease 
I though this was worth repeating. 

(note: here I am referring to atherosclerotic vascular heart disease in animals.  Dogs and Cats DO succumb to other common types of heart disease such as cardiomyopathy and heart worm etc.)

Animals That Don't Make Vitamin C, Do Get Atherosclerotic Heart Disease
This should be starting to become clear now.

Animal Scientific Support for the Pauling Unified Theory
As mentioned above, guinea pigs are especially well suited to study atherosclerosis because guinea pigs are unable to make their own vitamin C, and in addition, they develop atherosclerotic plaques similar to those found in humans.  

Left Image Guinea Pig Courtesy of Wikimedia

G. C. Willis, a Canadian doctor, conducted research with guinea pigs in the 1950's showing that guinea pigs deprived of dietary vitamin C developed atherosclerotic plaques, while guinea pigs given plentiful vitamin C were protected. In addition,guinea pigs fed a vitamin C deficient diet had elevated Lipoprotein (a) levels along with the increased atherosclerotic plaque formation in the arteries.(link)(link)

Similar findings were demonstrated in genetically engineered mice lacking the GLO enzyme. The GLO deficient mice fed a vitamin C deficient diet developed atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta with characteristic deranged collagen crosslinking. GLO deficient mice fed vitamin C were protected. (link)

Human Studies Suporting the Linus Pauling Theory
Optometrist, Dr. Sydney Bush's retinal artery observations support the Pauling theory.  Using modern equipment to non-invasively photograph the retinal arteries of the eye before and after Vitamin C supplementation in humans, Dr. Bush has documented reversal of atherosclerotic plaque with Vitamin C supplementation.(link)

Coronary Calcium Score studies also support the Pauling Theory with favorable results after treatment with Vitamin C and Lysine. 
(link)

Anecdotal case evidence of reversal of heart disease can be found in the medical literature and documented in Owen Fonorow's book (see image below).  In these cases, advanced heart disease regresses after supplemention with the Linus Pauling Protocol.  This is highly significant because the natural course of heart disease is progression, and any intervetion that alters the natural course of a diseae process is highly significant.

Message boards are a source of anecdotal cases reports supporting the Linus Pauling Protocol.   The Track Your Plaque Message Boards have documented many cases of regression of atherosclerotic disease with protocols which include vitamin C  as well as other nutritional supplements. (There is a modest membership fee for TYP) 

Why no drug company sponsored double blind placebo controlled studies? Since there are no patents involved for natural supplements, and no drugs involved, no drug company would ever invest the 250 million dollars to fund such a study with no potential for financial return.  

The Physician's Health Study - Don't Waste Your Money On Vitamins !!

Using public funds, the NIH (National Institute of Health) funded a large study called The Physicians' Health Study II which evaluated Vitamins C and E in heart disease and was published Nov. 9, 2008 in JAMA by Howard D. Sesso.  The study found that Vitamin C and E did not prevent mortality from heart disease, results which are completely opposite to massive previously published research and anecdotal case reports.  

A closer look shows a few glaring errors in study design.  The Linus Pauliing Protocol was not followed.  The dosage of vitamin C was set too low, at one tenth the dosage recommended by the Linus Pauling protocol, and lysine was not provided.  While the Sesso study showed no mortality benefit, many previous studies such as the Enstrom Study showed a striking 40% reduction in all-cause mortality over 6 years from the same 500 mg daily vitamin C dosage. The Paul Knecht studyshowed a 25% reduction in Heart Disease risk with daily 700 mg Vitamin  C.   Two previous studies from Japan and Finland showed that Vitamin C reduces risk for stroke, another atherosclerotic disease.  There are many more like these.

Since favorable results would be financially destructive to the drug and hospital industries, a cynic might suggest that vested interests were at work in Sesso's study intending to discredit vitamin C (as documented many times in the past with examples of corporate influence in medical research).  It is not difficult to design a medical study to fail.  I regard this as merely another example of the information war waged by corporate mainstream medicine against natural medicine.

Enstrom Study, 500 mg Vitamin C Reduces Mortality 40% over 6 years

Enstrom showed that increasing vitamin C intake had a dramatic 40% reduction in mortality benefit which exceeds any statin drug study ever conducted.

Linus Pauling Protocol For Prevention and Reversal of Plaque
If heart disease is chronic scurvy, caused by chronic vitamin C deficiency, then it makes sense to supplement with vitamin C in the amounts needed to make strong collagen and prevent arterial damage from mechanical stress.

In addition, Pauling devised a clever yet simple method to address the issue of Lipoprotein (a) attaching to the lysine residues on the damaged collagen fibers in the arterial wall.  He recommended supplementing with 2-4 grams of lysine per day.  The additional lysine in the blood stream attaches to the receptor sites on the lipoprotein (a) molecules, inactivating the lipoprotein(a) and preventing it from attaching to the arterial wall.  This prevents the initiation of the atherosclerotic process.  In addition, Vitamin C and Lysine are both important precursors for building strong collagen which makes strong arteries.

In addition to Lysine, some of the collagen crosslinking is done with another amino acid called Proline, so proline was also added to the treatment protocol.

Where to Read About the Linus Pauling Protocol:

Above image, Cover of Linus Pauling Protocol Book courtesy of Owen Fonorow. Read more about the Linus Pauling Protocol in this new book (above image): Practicing Medicine Without a License by Owen Fonorow.(link)(link)

Owen Fonorow is perhaps the single most dedicated person devoted to the 1992 Linus Pauling Protocol for prevention and reversal of heart disease.(link)  A patent for the Linus Pauling Protocol was issued in 1994.(link)  In 1996, a CAT scan coronary calcium score study validated the protocol showing a 15% reversal of calcification indicating reversal of coronary artery disease.(link)  Another excellent book on the subject of Vitamin C and heart disease is, Stop America's #1 Killer by Thomas Levy MD, JD. 2006 (link).  To read more on the Linus Pauling Protocol, see this short four page booklet by Owen Fonorow.(link) Or, read this excellent article by English and Cass.(link)

What is the Linus Pauling Protocol?

L-ascorbate (Vitamin C) 5-6 grams a day in divided doses
L-Lysine 5 grams a day in divided doses
L-Proline 2-3 grams a day in divided doses

These supplements can be obtained at any the health food store as tablets or capsules for 40 to 50 dollars a month.  A convenient powder form can be obtained at Tower Laboratories.  They have a product called Heart-Tech  which provides the Linus Pauling Protocol in powder form.  There is also the Vitamin C FoundationCardio-C which provides 2500 mg vitamin C and 2500 mg lysine per serving plus 500 mg proline. (link).

Vitamin E, Good or Bad, Yes or No, Blessing or Curse?  

Steve Hickey and Hilary Roberts come right out on page 167 of their book, and make the statement, "Vitamin C and Tocotrienols can reverse coronary artery disease".  They would add the Tocotrienol form of Vitamin E to the Linus Pauling Protocol.  Regarding heart disease, and atherosclerotic vascular disease, the authors state that "on the available evidence, the combination of Vitamin C and Tocotrienols could be curative with no known harmful effects."  For a more complete discussion of Vitamin E, see my article, Vitamin E, Curse or Blessing? by Jeffrey Dach MD.Opposition to the Linus Pauling Protocol by Mainstream MedicineIf you are facing the prospects of coronary artery bypass surgery (left image), you might ask the obvious question: Why hasn't my cardiologist told me about this information and started me on the Linus Pauling Protocol?  

Most cardiologists either don't know about it or ignore it because of the information war going on between mainstream medicine and natural medicine.  Cardiologists read medical journals which regularly run incorrect and biased articles saying Vitamin C is useless for prevention and reversal of heart disease, such as the Nov 9 2008 Sesso study. (link). 
Above image: coronary artery bypass operation courtesy wikimedia. 

Diagnosing and treating heart disease with expensive tests and procedures such as coronary angiography, angioplasty, stenting and bypass operations is the most profitable part of hospital big business.  That's why hospitals compete and fight with each other over the rights to expand and build larger cardiac cath labs and cardiac bypass operation programs.  These programs are huge money makers for the national hospital system.

What would happen if there was a cheap and effective way to reverse and prevent heart disease, (ie. the Linus Pauling Protocol)?  Heart disease would become an uncommon illness.  With fewer heart patients to treat, the multi-million dollar cath labs and cardiac bypass programs at your local hospital would become obsolete and disappear.  This would be a financial catastrophe for mainstream medicine.

No More Construction Cranes?

With so much money and vested interest at stake, you can imagine why it is not prudent for a cardiologist to bring up the benefits of the Linus Pauling Protocol in friendly conversation while lunching in the Doctor's Dining Hall.  That would be an instant ticket off the medical staff roster and out the hospital door, and the end of a lucrative cardiology practice.  What cardiologist in their right mind would do that?  It is easier for the mainstream cardiologists to simply laugh it off as a joke and go back to the cath lab, do more procedures and make some money to pay their bills.