For any of you out there in their 60’s or above, I would bet that when you were children, your Mom placed a large Vitamin C tablet in front of you and told you to down this with a large glass of orange juice. The reason? That generation was convinced that extra Vitamin C would prevent and even treat the common cold. Why did they think this was the case? Because LOTS of buzz was created when the famous, Noble Prize winning scientist, Linus Pauling (not to be confused with Linus from the Charlie Brown/Peanuts show) came out in the 1960’s and proclaimed the amazing virtues of taking lots of Vitamin C.
Fast forward to the current times and clearly we, as parents, did not force our children to down orange juice at breakfast nor did we force that 500 mg Vitamin C pill down their throats. So, which parenting generation was correct about Vitamin C being a “miracle” vitamin or a fake?
Well, first, a few words about Vitamin C: Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient crucial for the body because it acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals, and is essential for the production of collagen, a protein vital for healthy skin, bones, cartilage, and blood vessels; as the body cannot store Vitamin C, it needs to be consumed regularly through diet to maintain proper function.
The recommended daily intake of Vitamin C is between 70-100 mg a day. Dosing greater than 2000 mg a day is considered potentially harmful. Most side effects of taking Vitamin C are GI in nature: bloating, nausea, GI upset.
Now, to the claims that mega dosing Vitamin C can reduce the risk of getting colds, reducing heart disease, preventing cancer and preventing eye disease: The studies are not clear at all that taking lots of Vitamin C prevents viruses, prevents cancer from developing or prevents heart disease. There is some data that people with higher Vitamin C levels have less risk of stroke and cataract formation.
I believe it is quite safe to take 500 mg (5X the recommended daily intake) but once again, the benefits of spending the $$$ on a Vitamin C supplementation program are suspect. It is NOT a “Miracle” Vitamin.
What is a “Miracle” is this old Barry Manilow song: Anyone remember the old Midnight Special show from the 70’s?
