Vitamin C & Disease Treatment

Vitamins >> Vitamin C & Disease Treatment - Part1

Cardiovascular diseases

Vasodilation: The ability of blood vessels to relax or dilate is compromised in individuals with atherosclerosis. The damage to the heart muscle caused by a heart attack and damage to the brain caused by a stroke is related, in part, to the inability of blood vessels to dilate enough to allow blood flow to the affected areas. The pain of angina pectoris is also related to insufficient dilation of the coronary arteries. Treatment with vitamin C has consistently resulted in improved dilation of blood vessels in individuals with atherosclerosis as well as those with angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Improved blood vessel dilation has been demonstrated at a dose of 500 mg of vitamin C daily.

Hypertension (high blood pressure): Individuals with high blood pressure are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have demonstrated a blood pressure lowering effect of vitamin C supplementation. One recent study of individuals with high blood pressure found that a daily supplement of 500 mg of vitamin C resulted in an average drop in systolic blood pressure of 9% after 4 weeks. It should be noted that those participants who were taking antihypertensive medication continued taking it throughout the 4-week study. Because the findings regarding vitamin C and high blood pressure have not yet been replicated in larger studies it is important for individuals with significantly high blood pressure to continue current therapy (medication, lifestyle changes, etc.) in consultation with their health care provider.

Cancer

Studies in the 1970's and 1980's conducted by Linus Pauling and colleagues suggested that very large doses of vitamin C (10 grams/day intravenously for 10 days followed by at least 10 grams/day orally indefinitely) were helpful in increasing the survival time and improving the quality of life of terminal cancer patients. However, two randomized placebo-controlled studies conducted at the Mayo clinic found no differences in outcome between terminal cancer patients receiving 10 grams of vitamin C/day orally or placebo There were significant methodological differences between the Mayo Clinic and Pauling's studies, and recently, two researchers from the NIH suggested that the route of administration (intravenous versus oral) may have been the key to the discrepant results. Intravenous (IV) administration can result in much higher blood levels of vitamin C than oral administration, and levels that are toxic to certain types of cancer cells in culture can be achieved with intravenous but not oral administration of vitamin C. Thus, it appears reasonable to reevaluate the use of high-dose vitamin C as cancer therapy.

Currently, there are no results from controlled clinical trials indicating that vitamin C would adversely affect the survival of cancer patients. However, vitamin C should not be used in place of therapy that has been demonstrated effective in the treatment of a particular type of cancer, for example, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. If an individual with cancer chooses to take vitamin supplements, it is important that the clinician coordinating his or her treatment is aware of the type and dose of each supplement. While research is underway to determine whether combinations of antioxidant vitamins might be beneficial as an adjunct to conventional cancer therapy, definitive conclusions are not yet possible.