Vitamin C Lowers Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes

Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients in the human body. Vitamin C has been linked as a cure for everything from diabetes, to cancer, as well as the common cold. Most species of animals produce their own vitamin C, but humans do not, along with the other primates, guinea pigs, and a rare Indian bat.

Vitamin C is important for the creation of collagen, which is found in bones and ligaments, blood vessels and tendons. It is also important in the creation of neurotransmitters, which have an effect on both brain function and mood. Vitamin C also helps reduce cholesterol and gallstones, as well as in the synthesis of carnitine, used to convert fat to energy.

The best-known use of vitamin C, other than a cure for colds, is as an antioxidant. In this capacity, vitamin C protects cells from oxidative damage of free radicals. Scurvy is the name of vitamin C deficiency, a disease nearly eradicated by consumption of oranges and lemons. A precursor to scurvy can be found in a blood test showing deficient levels of carnitine or the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine.

Linus Pauling and the Minimum Daily Dose
Vitamin C’s greatest advocate was Linus Pauling and an institute that bears his name furthers his research at Oregon State University. Pauling won a Nobel Peace Price for efforts against nuclear weapon proliferation, and a Nobel Prize in Chemistry as well, before his work with vitamin C. Pauling began research with vitamin C in 1966 and first championed it as a cure for the common cold. Pauling suggested that the correct dosage of vitamin C was 10 to 12 grams a day. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is currently only 90 mg a day for adults. Prevention of chronic disease requires higher levels of vitamin C consumption. Since vitamin C is not stored in the blood, it is best to divide the dose and take it multiple times throughout the day.

Diabetes
Researchers at the Addenbrooke Hospital in England looked at blood levels of vitamin C in medical records of many individuals. They discovered that those with the highest rate of vitamin C in their blood had a 22 percent lower incidence of diabetes.