[spiker]

Long story short - I had been taking large doses of vitamin C after reading about the Linus Pauling protocol for heart disease prevention. Three weeks ago I found an article based on a study that showed that too much vitamin C blocks the body's own natural anti-oxidants from working after strenous exercise. I am an avid runner/biker, etc. I wondered if I was actually damaging my heart so I reduced my C intake to 1/5 of what I had been taking. So far the results are promising. I feel better, have more energy and less arrythmatic episodes. Perhaps too much of any anti-oxidant is not good. I just thought I would share in case anyone else is on that protocol.

[dr461]

Not true. Excess vitamin C is excreted easily. Go read up on that You'd have to take about 10,000 MG of vitamin C so as to do any damage. The normal Linus Pauling protocol of 3000 MG/day would do no harm.

[Cheers]

Yea...I was always told that excess Vit C is peed out. Not a fat soluble vitamin was my understanding. That being said, I think they are finding we do not need nearly as much as they once said. I think it is more about the type. I was told to always take ascorbic. But if you feel better - GREAT!!! That is really all that matters!!

[Katie]

I think everyone who takes supplements should realize that nothing replaces a balanced diet. It should be everyones goal to get the majority of their nutrition from food and not pills. That being said I'm a supplement queen (! I eat really healthy too!) so I try to go supplement free for the weekend or once an entire week out of the month to not get an overload.

[spiker]

dr461, I only know that I feel so much better than before. Oral administration of vitamin C decreases muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and hampers training-induced adaptations in endurance performance is the article I found. I have also read that vitamin C supplements may cause pro-oxidative effects. Perhaps for more the more sedentary, a mega-dose would not cause the mitochondrial damage. I was taking 1 gram in the morning and then running 8 minute miles for 40 minutes. The only time I had some relief from PVC's etc while taking the C was when I stopped my exercise routine for 15 days. At any rate, I am wary of taking large doses of any supplement and am now concentrating on super-nutrition. So far so good.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by spiker

dr461, I only know that I feel so much better than before. Oral administration of vitamin C decreases muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and hampers training-induced adaptations in endurance performance is the article I found. I have also read that vitamin C supplements may cause pro-oxidative effects. Perhaps for more the more sedentary, a mega-dose would not cause the mitochondrial damage. I was taking 1 gram in the morning and then running 8 minute miles for 40 minutes. The only time I had some relief from PVC's etc while taking the C was when I stopped my exercise routine for 15 days. At any rate, I am wary of taking large doses of any supplement and am now concentrating on super-nutrition. So far so good.

You're reading too much. That is somebody's study for a doctoral dissertation. I know those studies well--I've done doctoral work. You come up with a theory and use statistics to prove your theory--that is, you use the ones that are to your benefit. I think you can safely take moderate doses of vitamin C, as the body needs it, and excretes what it doesn't need. I wouldn't live my life by somebody's biased research paper--I know, cuz I have written biased research papers...lolol

[spiker]

Perhaps there is another mechanism in play. My only data is that my arrythmias started a few months after starting the Pauling protocol and have greatly diminished since stopping. I still take 200mg of extra C every day and get plenty from my diet.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by spiker

Perhaps there is another mechanism in play. My only data is that my arrythmias started a few months after starting the Pauling protocol and have greatly diminished since stopping. I still take 200mg of extra C every day and get plenty from my diet.

Spiker, I'd agree with you--I'd bet on anxiety or stress as the main player mechanism.

[Susie]

When I have a cold, I take a 1000 every hour, actually, I feel good on that amount. Your body will excrete what it does not need. The only drawback is that in some folk, it can cause diarrhea, that is an indication your body has reached its saturation point and it is OK to cut back.

I would not worry about it, it is a very safe vitamin and very important, humans and guinea pigs are the only two animals that do not manufacture their own, all other mammals do.