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Bad Title
- Owen R Fonorow, Michael S. Till (13 July 2003)
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C is for 'chestnut' and guinea pigs
- catherine m collins (16 July 2003)
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Nutrient assessments
- Ellen C G Grant (18 July 2003)
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Individual Variation in Vitamin C Excretion Rate
- Bill D. Misner (18 July 2003)
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Owen R Fonorow, Director, VItamin C Foundation P. O. Box 3097, Lisle, IL USA 60532, Michael S. Till
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Your title implies a fact that was not asserted by the so-called "Preventive Task Force." Your headline implies that vitamin supplements have been shown not to prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer. Here is what the U.S. task force actually said: "The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of supplements " However, this conclusion, based on a "dozen" studies, is contrary to a fuller review done by the editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association last year. (June 19, 2002). All physicians should be aware that by limiting such "reviews" to recent years, much of the convincing evidence is missed. Since there is little profit and no reason to duplicate earlier studies, a slanted 'scientific' review seems to make matters confusing. I refer all readers to Thomas E. Levy's (MD, JD) recent book VITAMIN C, INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND TOXINS (2002) as Dr. Levy cites more than 1200 studies, most out of the range of (older than) current reviews. Dr. Levy (a cardiologist) wrote this book, after writing a previous manuscript about his conclusion that all 27 cardiovascular disease risk factors can be reduced to a single factor - low vitamin C intake. The publisher "rejected" the manuscript because the science is not "convincing" to support his hypothesis. Dr. Levy then wrote adnd published the INFECTIOUS DISEASES book because the science is overwhelming. However, a lack of science is not proof that vitamin C isn't the single most important factor in heart and cardiovascular disease. For those that may wish to learn more about Linus Pauling's unified theory in these matters, please visit www.PaulingTherapy.com Owen Fonorow www.PaulingTherapy.com www.VitaminCFOundation.org www.Bolenreport.com fonorow@foxvalley.net Competing interests: Vitamin C Distributor |
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catherine m collins, chief dietitian st georges hospital, london SW17 0QT
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As surely as night follows day, expect any methodical, contemplative article counselling caution in promoting megadose nutritional supplements to the worried well or truly ill to generate a trail of responses from those with a vested interest - financial or personal - in maintaining the current status quo. The response above is fairly typical of the genre, but somehow omitted the usual resource for vitamin C afficionados - www.vitamincfoundation.org Yet the growing consensus from government bodies and independent medical research is that the benign veneer afforded micronutrient megadoses - i.e they are a natural extension of a balanced diet and can only benefit the concerned consumer - is by and large unjustified, increasingly demonstrating physiological effects diametrically opposite to those touted by marketing copy. As a Registered Dietitian (RD) in the NHS, I have found that the poorly regulated and pan-media promotion of dietary supplements has had a deep effect on patients psyche, with some two thirds of my patients with ichaemic vasculature and/or inflammatory conditions taking at least one, but usually several supplements. Their relative cost not only impinges on disposable income available for more substantiated dietary practices, but may have adverse effects long term about which we currently know little. RD's like myself welcome the growing responsibility to protect consumer health choice by adopting the EU Directives on supplement limits, by acknowledging the sterling work of the UK Food Standards Agency EVM Committee reports as independent and impartial reviews (for Vitamin C http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/evm_c.pdf refers), and the scientifically robust reports from NIH and FDA on the role of supplementary micronutrients. Perhaps as a counter-chestnut for the hype surrounding vitamin C I could recommend the US www.quackwatch.com site, and the excellent review of vitamin C by Levine and colleagues (Criteria and Recommendations for Vitamin C Intake. JAMA 1999;281:1415-1423). I would further suggest that in respect of Vitamin C, those regular consumers of megadoses (ie greater than 2-3g a day) share common ground with the furry creatures that also lack the ability to endogenously synthesise Vitamin C but with one slight difference – they are the guinea pigs of the future rather than the present. Catherine Collins RD
Competing interests: None declared |
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Ellen C G Grant, Physcian and medical gynaecologist 20 Coombe Ridings, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT2 7JU
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Sir - It is possible to measure levels of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. For over 30 years I have found information about key nutrient deficiencies and consequent repletion invaluable for preventing and treating a range of conditions including unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriages, premenstrual tension, migraine, allergies, and hypertension. The field of Nutritional Medicine is important but complicated. Causes and effects are not easily clarified by epidemiological studies of one or two nutrients. It is unfortunate that the latest biochemical assessments are not usually available at NHS laboratories. For example, several of my patients with conditions ranging from cervical carcinoma-in situ to idiopathic anaemia and heart disease have had apparently normal range folate values in their serum and red cells. However, their deficiencies were demonstrated using a functional 24-hour urine test following an amino acid challenge. The anaemia had not responded to 400 micrograms of folic acid but consequently was corrected with a 5 mg dose plus a small dose of vitamin B12. The commonest deficiencies, even in younger adults, are of zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, especially vitamin B6, and essential fatty acids. Modern laboratory tests are expensive but are cheap compared with the costs of large international epidemiological studies. The latter have spawned false claims of cardiovascular or even cancer prevention benefits for the use of progestogens and oestrogens as oral contraceptives or as HRT for over 40 years. Meanwhile the often devastating effects of hormone use on the key nutrient levels of women of child-bearing age has gone largely unnoticed and uncorrected before pregnancy.1 1. Grant ECG. The pill, hormone replacement therapy, vascular and mood over-reactivity, and mineral imbalance. J Nutr Environ Med 1998;8:105 -116 Competing interests: None declared |
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Bill D. Misner, Director R & D, E-CAPS Inc. Spokane, WA, 99205 USA
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Michael Colgan (1993) reported that Vitamin C expenditure based on excretion rate which they observed in athletes post-dose was ranges between 0.5-5.0 grams per day before bowel stool inconsistency "looseness" results. He suggests that this vitamin has a regenerative role with vitamin E during high oxygen reactive species turnover due to prolonged exercise. This may account for absorption differences within the confines of individual biochemistry. It would appear that vitamin C requirements may hinge upon individual physiological differences. What level of overdose may influence excretory stool change in one person may not be reflected by dose-adequacy in another. This the begs the question: Should Reactive Oxygen Species be allowed free access in excess in those with familial history presenting a predisposition to cancers? That individual micronutrient differences exist of up to 5 times may imply that a gram of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure... Individual difference may account for a report impling micronutrient interventions do not prevent cancer; indeed, for some it may not, but for those whose inherent biochemistry runs precariously deficient, it may be a life-saving preventative protocol. Reference (Colgan M, OPTIMUM SPORTS NUTRITION, New York, Advanced Research Press, 1993:240-245.) Competing interests: The author is employed by a supplement manufacturer in the USA. |
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