Life Extension Foundation's Preliminary
Rebuttal to a Recent Vitamin C Study
April 9, 1998
HIGH DOSES OF VITAMIN C CAUSE DAMAGE
On April 8, 1998, British scientists
released the results of a study showing that vitamin C was
effective for cancer prevention and free radical suppression
at the dose of 60 mg a day, but at 500 mg a day, it caused
genetic damage that could lead to cancer or rheumatoid
arthritis.
The researchers gave 30 human volunteers 500 mg vitamin C
supplements for six weeks. The scientists showed that while
500 mg a day produces protective effects, it also appears to
have a dual activity in which it can also cause damage.
Higher doses of vitamin C were shown to react with iron and
other metals to damage cellular DNA.
This small study help to validate The Life Extension
Foundation's 17-year position that vitamin C must be taken
with other antioxidants like vitamin E, or the vitamin C will
react with iron and copper to produce DNA-damaging free
radicals.
Saul Kent, President of The Life Extension Foundation,
first brought out this information in 1978, when he cited
animal studies showing that high doses of vitamin C, given
without other antioxidants, actually shortened the life
span.
Most vitamin supplement users consume at least 400 iu of
vitamin E, and 400 mcg of folic acid every day. The addition
of these two nutrients could have prevented the iron-induced
DNA damage observed by the British scientists. More specific
antioxidants like n-acetyl-cysteine, grape-seed and green tea
extract would provide significant protection against DNA
damage induced as a result of vitamin C catalyzing with iron
and copper.
The British scientists did note that even at the high dose
of 500 mg of vitamin C a day, it was preventing more damage
than it was creating.
|