Table Of ContentAscorbate
The Science of Vitamin C
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Ascorbate
The Science of Vitamin C
Steve Hickey PhD.
and
Hilary Roberts PhD.
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ISBN 1-4116-0724-4
Copyright © 2004 by Steve Hickey, PhD.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or
otherwise without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
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Contents
Contents 5
Acknowledgements 7
Preface 9
A new approach to vitamin C 11
Science and scurvy 19
Scientific reliability 31
Social influences on science 40
The history of vitamin C 50
Chemistry and vitamin C 55
Evolution and deficiency 67
How much does a healthy person need? 73
Is vitamin C safe? 91
Biased experiments 97
Oxidation and illness 107
The ultimate antioxidant 115
Dynamic flow 125
Heart disease and stroke 131
Heart disease or scurvy? 143
Vitamin C and lysine 154
Antioxidants and heart disease 160
Infectious diseases 170
Cancer 187
Vitamin C as a treatment for cancer 193
Replication and refutation 207
Glossary of terms 213
Index 223
References 227
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to all the following, particularly Dr Robert
Cathcart, who read an early draft and contributed detailed comments
and helpful suggestions. Dr Abram Hoffer read parts of the book and
provided comment and encouragement. Dr Mark Levine provided
detailed background information on his experimental results, despite
our disagreeing with some of his conclusions. Dr John Pemberton
supplied additional background information on his experiments on
scurvy with Sir Hans Krebs. We should also like to thank Owen
Fonorow and the Vitamin C Foundation for discussion on the Pauling
therapy and reports from their web site. Dr Ian Brighthope kindly
provided information about his current views. Dr Aleksandra
Niedzwiecki responded to our questions about her work with Dr
Mathias Rath on the treatment of heart disease with vitamin C, lysine
and proline. Dr Ulrike Beisiegel provided comment about her
collaborative work with Mathias Rath. Dr Lyubka Tantcheva provided
information about her vitamin C research. Dr Tom Levy provided
feedback on his work with heart disease.
Stephanie Morgan read a preprint of the book and provided
supportive guidance and comments. Michael Roberts, FRCS, read
parts of the manuscript and provided valuable comments. Simon
Hickey and Andrew Hickey read the manuscript and made helpful
suggestions. Michael Mesham, Nicola Chappell and Rose Chappell
also provided comments and helped with the manuscript.
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In memory of Tom Roberts
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Preface
This is a book about the science of vitamin C (ascorbate), with
particular emphasis on its use for treating and preventing disease.
Our aim is to help people understand the controversy that currently
surrounds this vitamin.
A large number of publications advocate the use of vitamin C
supplements for good health and, in higher doses, as a treatment for
disease. In this book, however, it is not our intention to promote the
use of vitamin C as a treatment for any particular condition. In the
event that a reader wishes to try vitamin C as a treatment for some
condition, we must suggest that they first consult a physician. Medical
guidance is essential for the treatment of significant disease and, for
example, it is necessary to have an accurate diagnosis in order to
determine the appropriate treatment. While high doses of vitamin C
are normally safe, there are exceptions in certain disease states and
genetic conditions. There may also be dangers in treating some forms
of cancer; reports suggest that in some patients it may kill the tumour
too quickly, producing necrosis and toxicity. In particular, medically
qualified practitioners should carry out the administration of
intravenous sodium ascorbate.
Nutritional supplementation, on the other hand, is a matter of
personal choice; doctors often have little training in this area. The
purpose of this book is to allow readers to reach an informed
judgement about the health claims made for vitamin C. When
considering large dose supplements, it is wise to ensure that the
person does not have one of the few contraindications, such as iron
overload or kidney disease. While medical assistance is important in
treating disease, our view on supplementation is that until doctors
have carried out the necessary research, they would do well to resist
pontificating about a person’s right to good nutrition.
The Nobel Prize winning physicist, Richard Feynman, used to
say that if you really understood something you could explain it in a
simple way. Our aim in this book is to present a straightforward and
balanced account of the complex actions and potential uses of vitamin
C. In some parts, the biochemistry is complicated, although we have
tried to make it as simple as possible without introducing error. We
hope that intelligent members of the public will be able to read the
book without too much effort, even if they have not had a scientific
education. We have also taken account of the needs of medical
practitioners, who may be interested in the subject. Although the
arguments are sophisticated, we have tried to represent them as
clearly and simply as possible. We assume that scientists who read
the book will be able to fill in the finer detail for themselves.
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We have tried to make a difficult subject readable, while
maintaining a high degree of accuracy. Many references are included,
which should make it easier for the reader to follow up specific points.
In referring to research papers, we have sometimes used the first or
main author’s name to represent a research group, as using et al or
“and colleagues” disrupts the flow. We hope the other members of
these research groups will not be offended; we do not mean to imply
that a collaborative effort is the result of one person’s work. In most
cases, we have referenced specific research papers but occasionally
we have included only a representative example. We have largely
limited the discussion of specific illnesses to heart disease, infections
and cancer: the largest killers in the industrial world. The list of
diseases that may be influenced by vitamin C supplementation or
treatment is much larger.
The primary aim of this book is to provide insight into an area of
nutrition where rigorous science is generally lacking. Vitamin C was
controversial long before Linus Pauling started to promote its use.
Despite this, we still await well-designed experiments to determine the
biological properties of the vitamin. Several researchers have
suggested to us that the reason for this is that the questions are not
particularly interesting, or are unlikely to produce positive results. To
these, we would point out that it is unscientific to assume the results
of experiments before they have been performed. Others suggest that
commercial, institutional and financial forces actively prevent such
research, at the expense of a sick population. Some critics have gone
as far as to describe the actions of these influences as genocide. Our
aim is to present a wide-ranging evaluation of the facts, so that the
reader may come to their own conclusions.
For those who might be wondering, we published this book
through Lulu to avoid editorial delays, retain control of the text and
because they have a great publishing model. Since books are not
subject to a formal peer review process, readers who notice errors or
omissions are invited to email us at “[email protected]”.
We will acknowledge helpful contributions in later editions.
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