Linus Pauling was right about Vit C

Options
saluki
saluki Member Posts: 2,287
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

This news from Reuters casts a new light on Vitamin C.  There has been some controversy over the benefits and dosage recently.  I was taking 500 mg but in light of this I'm  going to up it.

______________________ 

By Will Dunham

Vitamin C can impede the growth of some types of tumors although not in the way some scientists had suspected, researchers reported on Monday.

The new research, published in the journal Cancer Cell, supported the general notion that vitamin C and other so-called antioxidants can slow tumor growth, but pointed to a mechanism different from the one many experts had suspected.

The researchers generated encouraging results when giving vitamin C to mice that had been implanted with human cancer cells -- either the blood cancer lymphoma or prostate cancer. Another antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, also limited tumor growth in the mice, the researchers said.

Antioxidants are nutrients that prevent some of the damage from unstable molecules known as free radicals, created when the body turns food into energy. Vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene are among well-known antioxidants.

Previous research had suggested that vitamin C may stifle tumor growth by preventing DNA damage from free radicals.

But researchers led by Dr. Chi Dang, a professor of medicine and oncology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, found that antioxidants appear to be working in a different way -- undermining a tumor's ability to grow under certain conditions.

Figuring out how antioxidants impede tumors should help scientists figure out how they might be harnessed to fight cancer, Dang said. In addition to the cancer types involved in this study, others that might be vulnerable to vitamin C include colon cancer and cervical cancer, he said.

Dang said more research is needed and cautioned against taking high doses of vitamin C based on these findings.

"Certainly we would very much discourage people with untreated cancer to go out and take buckets full of vitamin C," Dang said in a telephone interview.

Linus Pauling argued in the 1970s that vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, could ward off cancer, but the notion has proved contentious.

Pauling, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry as well as the Nobel Peace Prize, died in 1994.

"Pauling actually had some good evidence that under certain situations vitamin C can prevent tumor formation. It's just the mechanism was really not that clear then," Dang said.

"Now that, I think, we provide relatively compelling evidence of how this works, maybe Pauling is partly right. We shouldn't dismiss him so quickly." Dang added.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • joanne_elizabeth
    joanne_elizabeth Member Posts: 499
    edited September 2007

    I know he was right!  And so many people disparaged him.

    How much to take though?  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2007

    I'm taking 1500 mg.  I didn't know it was "unsafe."  I wasn't taking it before dx. 

    Who really knows?

    Shirley

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited September 2007

    Me too, Sister Shirley!

    I WAS taking it before dx.But I used to be a smoker and have taken vitamin C ever since I read supplimenting it was imperative for smokers.

    There is an intravenous vitamin C treatment which has been reported to kill cancer (and be much less debilitating than chemo).

    You can't tale to much vitamin C.It is water soluable, the body cant store it.If you dont need it, you pee vitamin C-rich urine.

    I take more if I'm sick.(Emergen-C packets contain 1K vitamin C, and I'll take 3 or 4 a day.)

    I KNOW Dr Pauling was right.

    So does Dr Weil.

    Thanks, Susie.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited September 2007

    Joan- I was taking over 1000 mg of ester C initially.   But then I read Dr. Weil's updated recommendations and cut back. After reading this latest news I think it may be in my best interest to up my dosage.  Here is what Dr Weil wrote in response to  a question about his current recommendation.                

    I'm also going to look into N-acetylcysteine

     

    Q    
    An Antioxidant Update?
    You used to recommend taking 1,000-2,000 mg of vitamin C, three times a day. Now it's 250 mg twice a day. Why?
    A    
    Answer (Published 10/9/2006)
    It is true that I used to recommend taking 2,000 to 6,000 mg of vitamin C a day divided into three doses. I changed this in 1999, after examining two important studies showing that significantly lower levels of vitamin C more than saturate the body's tissues, and thus are sufficient protection against cancer, heart disease and other chronic illnesses. I now recommend only 200 to 500 mg divided into two doses.

    A review of clinical trials published in the April 21, 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that 200 mg of vitamin C a day is the maximum human cells can absorb, making anything above that level a waste. The second study came from the Linus Pauling Institute and was published in the June 1999 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It identified a similar dose, 120 to 200 mg, as the optimal amount for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, cataracts and other chronic conditions.
    Related Weil Products
    Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor for Your Body - Foods, herbs and drugs can all interact, sometimes in unexpected ways. Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor takes known interactions into account when developing recommendations, to help safeguard against adverse effects. Learn more, and get your free, personalized Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor recommendation today.

    If you've been taking larger amounts, don't worry. There's no danger. Vitamin C is water soluble and any not used by the body is quickly eliminated.
    advertisement

    The rest of my antioxidant cocktail is as follows:

        * Vitamin E: 400 IUs a day of mixed natural tocopherols, or at least 80mg of mixed tocopherol and tocotrienols. Since vitamin E is fat soluble, it must be taken with food to be absorbed. Always choose natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol with mixed tocopherols) and avoid the synthetic form (dl-alpha-tocopherol). The best brands will also include mixed tocotrienols, the other components of natural vitamin E (I take vitamin E at lunch or dinner).
        * Selenium: 200 micrograms a day. Selenium is a trace mineral with antioxidant and anticancer properties. Selenium and vitamin E facilitate each other's absorption, so take them together. Doses above 400 micrograms a day may not be healthy.
        * Mixed carotenes: 15,000 IUs a day. I recommend using natural forms of mixed carotenoids, such as alpha and gamma carotene along with beta-carotene, which is easily found in health food stores. Read the label to make sure it gives you lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes that helps prevent prostate cancer, and lutein, which protects against cataracts and macular degeneration. Better brands will include other important carotenoids like astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, phytoene and phytofluene.

    Be sure to take supplements with meals to enhance absorption and reduce the risk of stomach upset.

    Andrew Weil, M.D.
    How much vitamin C do you take? Click here to state your case in our discussion groups.
     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JoanofArdmore
    JoanofArdmore Member Posts: 1,012
    edited September 2007

    Susie, I know.I get his newsletter and even get email tips.I knew when he renegged, uh, cut his C recommendation.BUT.

    First of all, I couldnt even FIND 1 or 2 hundred vitamin C pills.Lowest I could find was 500.

    AND, each time I took less than 3 500 mg vit c's a day, (tried taking just one a day)I started catching cold.

    Not going to argue w/Dr Weil.But obviously my body is used to having 1500 mg C a day!After all, I've been doig it for about 20 years!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mcgaffey
    mcgaffey Member Posts: 241
    edited September 2007

    I think the most important thing to remember is to eat foods with vitamin C and assorted other wonderful vitamins and then supplement with pills. Eating 5 to 6 portions or more a day of your fruits and veggies and making sure you eat a diet with a lot of variety goes a long way to a healthy you. But we all know that taking vitamins helps to supplement our diets as well.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited September 2007

    Joan--Even when I was in good shape I couldn't handle that  kind of dose.  I did try but;---Wound up on Tagamet, but  I have a hiatal hernia anyway.  I had the same problem as you Joan--couldn't find a dosage that size.

    Mcgaffey, I agree with you about trying to get your nutrients from food and then supplement, but since I have Gerd, I stay away from Citrus, so a little more problematic.

    Joanne Elizabeth--I'm with you---Wish I knew what the right dose is.  Nice to know there are valid new reasons to take this but then we aren't mice so who knows the effective dosage.

    Shirley--I don't think there is a safety concern unless you are prone to kidney stones.  I was taking buffered asperin at the same time as the vitamin C----Thats how I think I ran into the stomach trouble. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2007

    Susie, I suppose I don't have kidney problems.  At least according to my bloodwork that is taken every six months.

    Shirley

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • zilpah
    zilpah Member Posts: 11
    edited July 2008

    Hi Everyone,

    I have been speaking recently to some doctors who recomend vit.C IV infusions 3x/week. Has anyone tried this? There arfe people mwho say that it has put their cancers into remission when everything else had failed to. Apparently oral vit.C does not react the same way in the body as IV vit.c infusions. There are also clinical trials going on in regards to this and the NIH is also conducting a study.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beastybabe
    beastybabe Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2008

    Hi Ladies

    Well I swear by Vitamin C, I started have twice weekly intervenous Vitamin C and now have it weekly.  I would also recommend a few other things if you want that ive researched that i believe have helped me.

    I am taking oral vitamin c morning and night, curcumin which is another name for turmeric and twice a day I take citrus pectin.  Citrus pectin has been shown to stop the cancer cells from forming or sticking together, the pectin destroys the sticky outside of the cell and so stops it forming tumors.  Tumeric or curcumin help to promote cell death in cancer or abnormal cells, it does not effect normal cells,

    Im also taking high doses of Melatonin (20mg) every night, this also is supposed to promote cell death in cancer cells.  And then of course some other things that you might want to get checked out is your Iodine level, the normal range is 120 - 250, mine was 20, so it was really low.  I take iodine drops in juice with my pectin powder.  My levels are much better now.

    I am positive that with fresh fruit and vege that is why my latest CT scan showed NO new cancer and showed healing in the cancer in my spine.  This is an amazing result.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited July 2008

    Beastybabe,

    You go Girl!  I do a lot of the protocol you follow, plus some more. Than stopped...and than got a recurrence. Are you in treatment now?  I was using Citurs Pectic also and stop after I heard it's a no no with chemo.

    Flalady

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited July 2008

    Beastybabe,  Awesome you are NED!!  Thank you for posting about taking Vit C and Melatonin.  I will remember to take them again.  I got caught up taking, CoQ, Omega 3, Calcium/Mg, Vit D and Vit Bs for my feet neuropathy.  Thank you for reminding to take these other supplements.  Best wishes, Joann

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • carol1949
    carol1949 Member Posts: 562
    edited September 2008

    Beastybabe,  I also am taking iodine.  Could you please tell me how you got your iodine level checked, and where perhaps?  Ie:  blood work, or what?

    Have you checked out Dr. Patrick Quillin, Beating Cancer With Nutrition?  It sounds like you are doing many of the things he suggests.  He is former VP of Cancer Treatment Centers 0f America.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited September 2008

    You may think me crazy ... and that's ok ....

    ... three years ago, a friend suggested to me to try this "cocktail" one whole lemon (including rind), three garlic cloves and olive oil blended in a food processor...then drink.  I did this daily for several months...now less frequently.  It actually taste good too.  I also learned that this drink is good to purge the liver and gall bladder (Healing with Whole Foods..gift from my son). 

    I'm happy for you Beastbabe 

    Best wishes to all as always

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited September 2008

    Blundin,

    I have heard of your combo also....I just might have to try it. Sounds kinda yucky...

    Flalady

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Liz08
    Liz08 Member Posts: 470
    edited September 2008

    When I asked my naturalpath about vit. C she said it's an excellent antioxident and that in some studies high doses (amounts that can't possibly be consumed orally) can actually kill off cancer cells. Keeping this in mind, getting high doses of Vit. C by IV makes alot of sense but I vaguely recall reading that sometimes vit. C can actually add the growth of cancer cells.  This study may have been done at Sloan.  Does anyone recall hearing/reading something like this? It's possible that I'm confusing my information but any input on this would be appreciated.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited September 2008

    LizM,

    Did you see the other Vit C thread in this section.  It another report about vit c.  Mainstream doctor will go back in forth on this.  I search Sloan earlier this week and they did not have this noted....but I'm with you... it was floating around out there.  I think to scare patients away.

    Flalady

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rrs
    rrs Member Posts: 614
    edited September 2008

    I'm curious about how to test iodine level too. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FloridaLady
    FloridaLady Member Posts: 2,155
    edited September 2008

    Easiest way is just buy some iodine (I think it's behind the counter at Walmart but you don't need a prescription) you spread it on with a cloth to the skin on the inside of your arm or on your chest where you can see it but not wash it off.  The key is to wait and see how long it takes to disappear.  It should stay there four to six hours if I remember right. The faster your body takes it in the more the body needs it.  If it stay on top of the skin for a long time, it should mean your body does not need more.  This is a home way of checking your levels, there are test of the website breastcancerchoices.org, also that has this research.

    Flalady

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • beastybabe
    beastybabe Member Posts: 196
    edited September 2008

    Hi Ladies sorry its taken me so long to get back to you.

    My doctor is a general practioner and a naturopath...so I get the best of both worlds.  He did a complete blood work...thats how he found that my Iodine was so low...

    As of 24th September 08, Im still doing the Melatonin, Curcumin, Esther C (which is a non acidic form of Vitamin C), Omega 3,6,9...Vitamin D for bone health...and when I can afford it I get my Intravenous Vitamin C once a week.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FEB
    FEB Member Posts: 552
    edited October 2008

    ,

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories