16 replies to this topic

[Engadin]

V i t a m i n   C   R e d u c e s   H u m a n   M o r t a l i t y  

Humans do not internally produce vitamin C.

Diets provide enough vitamin C to avoid scurvy, but nowhere near what may be optimal doses.

Researchers have found that vitamin C promotes a longer lifespan and can help prevent many of the disorders related to aging, including cancer.

In a major new study, people with higher blood levels of vitamin C were at significantly lower risk for heart disease and cancer death—and were up to 25% less likely to die from any cause.

Vitamin C shows potential to significantly improve the quality of life.

 

Effect of Vitamin C on Mortality

 

 

In a new study, researchers examined vitamin C blood levels and their relationship with patients’ health.

The study involved 948 randomly selected, healthy men and women aged 53 to 84, whose blood was collected in 1999-2000. Subjects were closely followed for the next 16 years, and their health was tracked.

What the study showed was that people whose 16-year-old blood samples contained the highest levels of vitamin C back then had significantly lower risks of dying now.

The differences were dramatic. Those in the highest quartile of baseline blood vitamin C levels were 25% less likely to die than those in the lowest quartile.

Finally, when the researchers analyzed data by disease type, they found that those in the top quartile of blood vitamin C levels in 1999-2000 were at a lower risk for both heart disease and cancer deaths 16 years later.

Many other studies also show a clear link between vitamin C and leading a long, healthy life.

While higher vitamin C levels are associated with people who practice healthier behavior patterns, this study nonetheless shows striking reductions in mortality rates in those with the highest blood levels of vitamin C.

 

Boosting Longevity

 

Animal studies show that vitamin C can reverse several age-related abnormalities in tissues. This includes reducing inflammatory responses, protecting DNA integrity, and reducing biomarkers of cellular stress. When left unaddressed, all of these are associated with rapid aging.

Research demonstrates that vitamin C supplementation can extend lifespan in a primitive worm often used in longevity testing.

Studies in mice show even more dramatic results. Humans are among the very few mammals not capable of making their own vitamin C and so they must obtain it from their diet. Scientists did a series of studies using mice that were genetically engineered to age prematurely and require dietary vitamin C.

These studies found that in the absence of significant dietary vitamin C, the mice have a severe reduction in lifespan, and have numerous metabolic abnormalities that resemble those of older humans.

But when vitamin C is added to their diet, the animals’ lifespans were significantly increased, and all metabolic abnormalities were resolved.

The evidence is clear: Vitamin C is an important component to healthy longevity. The results are even more remarkable when scientists examine the role of vitamin C in specific diseases that cause premature death in humans.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

Vitamin C and Health

 

• Vitamin C was one of the first vitamins to be discovered.
• First noted for its ability to fight the connective tissue degeneration of scurvy, vitamin C has now been shown to have a vital relationship with biochemical reactions crucial to cellular health throughout the body.
• A new study shows that individuals with higher blood levels of vitamin C are less likely to die from any cause.
• Daily supplementation with vitamin C may help prevent cancer, boost the immune system, and protect the cardiovascular system.

 

VITAMIN C AND CANCER

 

Vitamin C is powerful in reducing the oxidative stress that can trigger DNA damage, leading to cancer initiation, and it can inhibit the inflammatory response that promotes tumor growth.

Taking vitamin C supplements reduces markers of oxidative stress in non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. Vitamin C supplements have also been shown to reduce damage to human cells that was caused by exposure to radiation.

In fact, some recent studies recommend vitamin C and other antioxidants as ideal protection for patients before undergoing imaging studies that use radiation (like X-rays and CT scans).

The vitamin may act directly on developing malignancies as well. Vitamin C can generate hydrogen peroxide, which destroys rapidly-replicating cancer cells.

Gastrointestinal cancers are among the most common and most preventable malignancies.

A large clinical study found that higher vitamin C levels were strongly linked to a lower risk of stomach cancer (gastric adenocarcinoma). For each 0.35 mg/dL increase in blood levels of vitamin C, there was a 14% reduction in risk of this tumor. Compared to people with the lowest vitamin C levels, those with normal concentrations had an overall 27%reduction in stomach cancer risk.

Breast cancer studies show a similar result: Women with the highest intake of vitamin C prior to a cancer diagnosis were 25% less likely to die from the disease compared to those with the lowest levels.

In experiments with normal mice and those genetically engineered to express human genes (including lack of vitamin C synthesis), all normal animals developed mammary cancers after implantation with human breast cancer cells. In mice bearing human genes there was a reduced growth when given modest vitamin C supplementation. Moreover, in the engineered mice on higher-dose vitamin C, none developed tumors.

 

Vitamin C Adds Cardio Protection

 

Research into vitamin C and cardiovascular disease has shown that the vitamin can act at multiple pathways involved in the development of atherosclerosis, arterial blockage, and the resulting heart attacks and strokes.

Lipid peroxidation, free radical damage to fats, is a crucial step in the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Studies show that vitamin C at doses of 1,000 mg per day lowers levels of oxidative-stress markers in blood, even during the high oxidative-stress period following a meal.

Vitamin C has shown many beneficial effects in preventing cardiovascular disease:

• Vitamin C preserved crucial cardiac stem cells, required for healing damaged heart tissue, in a lab study.
• Two grams per day of vitamin C fully restored an important cardiovascular repair system in smokers after just 2 weeks of supplementation, giving them the same healing capacity as non-smokers.
• A meta-analysis of 44 clinical trials showed that vitamin C supplementation improved endothelial function. The effect was stronger in those with higher cardiovascular risk.16
• Vitamin C reduces the tendency to form harmful plaque and clots. A modest 500 mg per-day dose for 3 months in overweight and obese subjects triggered the release of a natural clot-busting protein, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in endothelial cells.
• A human double-blind study found that vitamin C supplementation for 6 weeks resulted in a 37% reduction in the numbers of monocytes sticking to endothelial cells—reducing the risk that atherosclerotic plaque would form.
• A clinical study of older men showed that a dietary intervention to increase vitamin C levels slowed the progression in thickening of the carotid artery.

The overall impact of vitamin C on cardiovascular disease risk is potentially life-saving, and studies suggest that daily supplementation with ample amounts can optimize protection of the heart and major arteries.

 

Boost Immune Function, Cut Infection Risk

 

Vitamin C is especially beneficial to the immune system, helping to prevent viral respiratory infections like the common cold. Immune system cells accumulate vitamin C, using it to create chemical “weapons” which destroy invading bacteria and viruses.

Diminished levels of vitamin C leave us vulnerable to specific disease-causing microbes.

Vitamin C’s immune-boosting effects arise from multiple mechanisms:

• Promoting the actions of phagocytes, the cellular “eating machines” that chew up bacterial and fungal cells.
• Activating T-cells, white blood cells, that scan the body for abnormalities and infections and direct both antibody-producing cells and killer cells to work against viruses and bacteria.
• Mitigating oxidative stress and reducing unneeded inflammatory responses.

In addition, vitamin C slows the gradual shrinkage of the thymus gland in mice. A shrinking thymus is closely associated with immunosenescence, in which a declining immune system leaves older people at higher risk for infection and autoimmune disorders.

A meta-analysis of 7 randomized, controlled trials found that, at the onset of an upper respiratory tract infection such as a cold, the addition of doses greater than one gram of vitamin C per day, on top of an ongoing daily preventive vitamin C regimen, significantly shortened the duration of illness and the severity of symptoms.

 

SUPPORTS HEALTHY COLLAGEN PRODUCTION

 

Collagen, a structural protein abundant in connective tissue and found throughout the body, makes up 30% of all body protein. Collagen provides strength and durability to bone, skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and more.

The strength and resilience of much of our collagen decreases with age, contributing to age-related changes to skin, bone, and even our cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Vitamin C plays a critical role in the synthesis of collagen. Studies have consistently shown that vitamin C supplementation improves collagen production and supports healing of tissues following injuries.

For example, there is evidence that vitamin C may accelerate bone healing after a fracture, and increase the quality and amount of collagen in connective tissues.

Additionally, vitamin C also protects against skin aging and prevents damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. In aging mice, it blocked wrinkle formation, loss of elasticity, and thinning of the skin by augmenting production of both collagen and elastic fibers.

 

Bone Health

 

 

Large population studies have found that higher vitamin C intake is associated with greater bone mass, and that lower vitamin C intake correlates with bone loss. And clinical studies have shown positive associations between vitamin C supplementation and improved bone mineral density.

A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis found that overall, greater vitamin C intake was associated with a 33% lower risk of osteoporosis, a lower risk of hip fractures, and greater bone mineral density. This isn’t surprising, given that vitamin C is required by enzymes that produce the protein matrix in bones. Thus, vitamin C is required for healthy, strong bones.

The study used mice with genetic defects that make them reliant on dietary vitamin C, as humans are. Multiple bone abnormalities were uncovered when the animals were fed a C-deficient diet. However, when vitamin C supplements were given, those abnormalities were resolved.

Vitamin C has a tremendous impact on bone, including restoring normal development of critical bone-forming cells (osteoblasts).

 

May Help Boost Mood, Fight Depression

 

Clinical studies are revealing that supplemental vitamin C, alone or in combination with anti-anxiety drugs, improves mood-related disorders.

In a randomized, controlled trial, two weeks of vitamin C treatment reduced anxiety compared to a placebo. In another controlled, clinical trial, 6 weeks of supplementation with vitamin C at a dosage of 1,000 mg daily significantly reduced anxiety levels.

Another placebo-controlled clinical trial in children with major depression found that with the addition of vitamin C to fluoxetine drug therapy the children had lower depression scores than those who received the fluoxetine plus a placebo. Remarkably, a short-term trial found that a single dose of 1,000 mg of vitamin C significantly reduced anxiety, compared to baseline levels, among the subjects in the top one-quarter of anxiety scores.

Several mechanisms are being explored to explain vitamin C’s mood-improving effects — beyond its ability to combat oxidative stress. One recent animal study showed that vitamin C may activate receptors for the neurotransmitter GABA, which boosts mood. Another provided evidence that vitamin C modulates human opioid-like receptors as it exerts its anti-depressant effects.

 

Summary

 

 

Multiple, large studies have shown that individuals with higher blood levels of vitamin C are less likely to die from any cause. Vitamin C has important preventive effects on a range of age-associated disorders.

Studies show that vitamin C supplementation can help prevent many kinds of cancers, protect the heart and blood vessels, boost the immune system and fight immune senescence. It has even shown the ability to help prevent osteoporosis and promote healthy bone formation.

Daily vitamin C supplementation plays a vital role in optimizing our body’s ability to combat oxidative stress and protect against many of the diseases associated with aging.

 

Source: https://www.lifeexte...uman-Mortality/

[William Sterog]

I am in. Is there a consensus in which kind is best to supplement?

[pamojja]

I am in. Is there a consensus in which kind is best to supplement?

 

Long term users who have benefited for many years, especially from intractable chronic disease, have no doubt. However, all others still can't agree. One such discussion: https://www.longecit...ystemic-health/
 

[MankindRising]

While Im a fan of vitamin c (despite me not taking it atm due to acidity) I do would have to say I have a strong dislike for lifeextension website blog posts... theres simply too much of an overhyped marketing factor in it.

 

So for everyone like me who dont want to dig through the bogus bullshit over at the LE website heres the link to the actual study: 

 

 

Association of plasma vitamin C concentration to total and cause-specific mortality: a 16-year prospective study in China. (not sponsored by any vitamin c supplement seller it seems)

https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/30100578

 

 

 

Something I would like to add (not sure how relevant it is but it could be): both resveratrol (and other antidiabetic compounds) aswell as vitamin c seem to upregulate PON1. This powerfully controls lipid peroxidation among many other things that are important. In fact PON1 plays a crucial role in detoxicfication of homocysteine junk called homocysteine thiolactone:

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PON1

Serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 (PON1) also known as A esterase , homocysteine thiolactonase or serum aryldialkylphosphatase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PON1 gene.

 

"PON1 is responsible for hydrolysing organophosphate pesticides and nerve gasses. Polymorphisms in the PON1 gene significantly affect the catalytic ability of the enzyme.^[10]

PON1 (paraoxonase 1) is also a major anti-atherosclerotic component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL).^[11][12] The PON1 gene is activated by PPAR-γ, which increases synthesis and release of paraoxonase 1 enzyme from the liver, reducing atherosclerosis.^[13]

The "natural" substrates for PON1 appear to be lactones.^[14] However, PON1 has evolved to be a highly promiscuous enzyme capable of hydrolysing a wide variety of substrates such as lactones (including a number of important pharmaceutical agents such as statins), glucuronide drugs, thiolactones, arylesters, cyclic carbonates, organophosphorus pesticides and nerve gases such as sarin, soman and VX, oestrogen esters and lipid peroxides(oxidised lipids)."

 

"PON1 was first discovered through its ability to hydrolyse and therefore detoxify organophosphorus compounds which are widely used as pesticides and nerve gases. Despite decades of research it is only now becoming clear that PON1 protects humans from the acute and chronic harmful effects of these compounds^[20][21] Low PON1 activity found in children may increase their susceptibility to organophosphates.

Oxidised-lipids are the major cause of inflammation and are responsible for the initiation and/or propagation of several inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis (heart disease and stroke), diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, rheumatic diseases, eye diseases (macular degeneration), cancer and HIV infection^{[citation needed]}. Because of its ability to destroy oxidised-lipids PON1 appears to play some role in all these diseases. However, the greatest research interest has been the role of PON1 in atherosclerosis, where, because of its ability to remove harmful oxidised-lipids, PON1 protects against the development of atherosclerosis^[22] Oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (notably in oxidized low-density lipoprotein) form lactone-like structures that are PON substrates.^[23]

PON1 also protects against bacterial infection by destroying the bacterial signalling molecules that cause gram negative bacteria to invade human tissue and form colonies, thus PON1 contributes to the bodies innate immunity^[24]"

 

 

https://en.wikipedia...ki/Homocysteine

Homocysteine can cyclize to give homocysteine thiolactone, a five-membered heterocycle. Because of this "self-looping" reaction, homocysteine-containing peptides tend to cleave themselves by reactions generating oxidative stress.^[9]

Homocysteine also acts as an allosteric antagonist at Dopamine D₂ receptors.^[10] It has been proposed that both homocysteine and its thiolactone may have played a significant role in the appearance of life on the early Earth.^[11]

 

Now obviously resveratrol alone isnt unique in inducing PON1 (vitamin c, quercetin and low alcohol intake also do so), but the MOA by which it does seems rather unique from what I understand.

 

Induction of the Paraoxonase-1 Gene Expression by Resveratrol

https://www.ahajourn...146530.24736.ce

"Methods and Results— PON-1 activity assays, Northern blot, and transfection experiments showed that resveratrol increased the PON-1 gene expression in human hepatocyte primary cultures and in the HuH7 hepatoma cell line involving a transcriptional mechanism. The resveratrol effect was not ERα-dependent and was surprisingly mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and an unconventional AhR responsive element in the PON-1 gene promoter. This agonist effect of resveratrol was specific for this DNA motif and was not observed on classical AhR responsive elements.

Conclusions— These observations suggest that the PON-1 gene induction may be involved in the cardioprotective properties of resveratrol. They also highlight a ligand-dependent differential modulation of AhR-sensitive genes.

The human paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme displaying protective properties toward cardiovascular disease. We show that resveratrol, a wine component, increases the PON-1 gene expression in human hepatocytes and in the HuH7 hepatoma cell line by an unusual AhR-mediated transcriptional mechanism."

 

Whats kind of unique about it is that resveratrol seems to also be an AHr antagonist (selective one) and thus blocking blocking the formation of carcinogens such as those in car exhaust and cigarette smoke AND at the same time increase the defense against toxins and endogenous created junk by inducing PON1.

Edited by MankindRising, 16 March 2019 - 11:20 PM.

[manofsan]

I am in. Is there a consensus in which kind is best to supplement?

 

 

Try the time-release Vitamin C   --  that will ensure you constantly have a healthy supply of it

[William Sterog]

Try the time-release Vitamin C -- that will ensure you constantly have a healthy supply of it

Won't this supplement hinder my response to exercise?

[pamojja]

Won't this supplement hinder my response to exercise?

 

Depends, in studies it seem to do to some extent.

 

In real life and my case of a 60% walking-disability due to PAD (considered a progressive and non-reversible chronic disease) and a 80% stenosis at my abdominal aorta, which initially allowed me to walk 300-400 meters only at a time (10 years ago), improved very fast to at least being able to walk 1 hour at a time, after reaching a higher therapeutic dose of at least 6 g/d after one year (together with lysine, as part of Linus Pauling's recommendations). So with a chronic disease, where walking has become the only kind of exercise tolerated, at least in my case it improved.

 

2012 had a setback to only 1/2 hr walking distance due to a chronic bronchitis that whole year. Finally that cured with a lot of sunshine and sea-breeze at a South-Indian beach for 4 months. Which for its beneficial effects I repeated from then on, by staying each winter for 6 weeks on vacation there. Which additionally allowed to exercise in swimming, and much further than at home in Europe. Where I only get to 20 minutes at a time due to shivering, while relaxed swimming in the tepid Ocean there allowed up to 40 minutes at a time.

 

However, only after 6 years of high dose vitamin C (in average at about 23 g/d for that time period) the 60% walking-disability was officially revoked, and given a remaining general 50% disability for remaining general symptoms similar to CFS instead.

 

Finally this year winter swimming in the Arabic sea each day up to 40 minutes again, after some weeks I thought I will probably never be able any longer at a time. But then it gave way and even been able to swim 70 minutes at a time the last 2 weeks.

 

That's of course only one anecdotal experience, additional with a very nasty usually non-reversible chronic disease. However, since exercise capacity is really not difficult to ascertain, it is easy enough to find out by how any intake is affecting oneself, and therefore really no need for believing in studies.

 

 

Try the time-release Vitamin C -- that will ensure you constantly have a healthy supply of it

 

If one goes the for me effective route of taking teaspoon fulls of pure ascorbic acid 3-4 times a day in a glass of water - than I would highly disadvise to use any capsule or tablet products, but only pure powder mixed in water. For avoiding all the binder, filler and additives. Which other than ascorbic acid can't be healthy in the many grams range for many years.

[Oakman]

Though only my anecdotal experience, I have taken various amounts of Vit C throughout my life, from young adulthood, and continuing as of today, so at least 40+ yrs. Never less than 500 mg/day normally, typically 1g/day, but when ill (colds/flu/etc) sometimes as much as 1g/hr while awake. I'm not any great athlete, but have gotten more fit in later life by some measures, and have been generally healthy throughout. 

 

Back in the day, I was a great fan of Linus Pauling, who was a promoter of Vitamin C for many ills. I took that to heart and I can't say I've ever regretted it. In fact, I highly recommend using Vitamin C to anyone.

[joelcairo]

I'm not stating this as a fact, but my interpretation of those studies showing that antioxidants can reduce the response to exercise is that they are looking at artificial high-intensity short-term exercise. The kind that "shocks" muscle cells into growing or firing more forcefully.

 

In this situation the intensity is managed so as to not damage the cells. For example, nobody starts an exercise program by running 10 miles at maximum speed, but in an uncontrolled situation this might be suddenly necessary in an emergency or when fleeing danger or whatever. In the latter situation, you might well say that antioxidants are highly beneficial by reducing oxidative stress and improving the recovery time.

 

In other words, the effect may be real, but in everyday experience it could be either desirable or undesirable depending on the context. And if you exercise regularly, even if you take supplements of course you'll still see a longterm health & fitness benefit. I don't see how anyone could doubt that.

Edited by joelcairo, 20 March 2019 - 08:52 PM.

[BasicBiO]

I'm not stating this as a fact, but my interpretation of those studies showing that antioxidants can reduce the response to exercise is that they are looking at artificial high-intensity short-term exercise. The kind that "shocks" muscle cells into growing or firing more forcefully.

 

In this situation the intensity is managed so as to not damage the cells. For example, nobody starts an exercise program by running 10 miles at maximum speed, but in an uncontrolled situation this might be suddenly necessary in an emergency or when fleeing danger or whatever. In the latter situation, you might well say that antioxidants are highly beneficial by reducing oxidative stress and improving the recovery time.

 

In other words, the effect may be real, but in everyday experience it could be either desirable or undesirable depending on the context. And if you exercise regularly, even if you take supplements of course you'll still see a longterm health & fitness benefit. I don't see how anyone could doubt that.

 

My take, as a lifelong lifter and biologist, is that reducing oxidative damage during training will reduce the body's response to said exercise over the short term, ie during the recovery period. In lifting you are quite literally damaging muscle cells in order to spur a repair response by the body in the hopes of adapting to the new stressor. Inflammation is a key part of this process so adding endogenous anti inflammatories or antioxidants will dull the signaling cascade that triggers the adaptation.

 

If one is training for a specific goal such as preparation for a contest, then I would say to not take high levels of vitamin C or NSAIDS as that can potentially blunt gains. For the rest of us non-competitors, I think it's fine as reducing exercise induced cellular damage is likely beneficial over the long term/lifetime.

[Oinen]

Is it because oxidative stress can activate SIRT genes? So, if one was taking SIRT activators like NMN, Pterostilbene, and Resveratrol? I've heard of SIRT activators like NMN turn on many (all?) of the same genes that exercise does.

[Dorian Grey]

I've supplemented C all my life, but along the way, I've learned a couple of tips to optimize effectiveness.  

 

Everyone thinks of Vitamin-C as an antioxidant, but it can also have pro-oxidant properties in the presence of unbound transition metals, specifically iron.  

 

Look Here: http://flipper.diff....p/pathways/6861

 

"Iron and ascorbic acid form a potentially toxic cocktail. The chemical mechanisms given above have been established demonstrating the potential for these compounds to interact and oxidatively damage surrounding tissues."

 

If you wish to optimize Vitamin-C's benefit, make sure your iron homeostasis is also optimized.  Ferritin should be in the lower third (less than 100) and iron saturation (TSAT) in the middle third of normal range if you want to avoid Fenton / Haber-Weiss redox cycling and hydroxyl radical generation.  

 

Iron chelators like Curcumin, Quercetin & IP6 (inositol hexaphospahte) can also help optimize the antioxidant potential of Vitamin-C.  

 

Vitamin-C also GREATLY increases absorption of non-heme dietary iron, & thus I consider it an "empty stomach" supplement.  Taking Vitamin-C with iron fortified foods is a recipe for inflammation of the gut and body.  

 

A low iron environment will supercharge the effectiveness of Vitamin-C.  Lower doses will be more effective, and you'll avoid potential for redox cycling and aggravation of "Ferrotoxic Disease"

 

https://www.longecit...isease-omnibus/

 

  Stay Healthy My Friends!  

Edited by Dorian Grey, 27 March 2019 - 06:54 AM.

[BieraK]

I think we need to see "antioxidants" in two categories: radical scavengers like Vit C, E, A and Longevity and metabolic pathways modulators with or without antioxidant properties.
Last category include the typical ones: Quercetin, Curcumin, Resveratrol, Ginseng, Fisetin, Andrographis Paniculata*, Sulforaphane*, Berberine, Rhodiola, Gingko, Centella Asiatica, Grape Seed Extract, Emblica Officinalis, Jiaogulan, Boswellia Serrata, Astragalus.... and so on #zizek

 

** Are two examples of the strange and contradictory effects of natural extracts in the body, both are potent Nrf2 activators, these supplement could protect healthy cells but selectively damage unhealthy ones. Some of thes activates AMPK but at the same time  could enhance regenerative and some anabolic pathways like neurogenesis. The more I learn about natural plant extracts the less I understand about how these things works. Some of these compounds have direct antioxidant properties like Emblica Officinalis other has less antioxidant properties like resveratrol but works indirectly like one by activating Sirt1 and reducing inflammation by mimicking a CRON diet.

 

What happens if you take Resveratrol+Jiaogulan (Sirt1+AMPK activator) before weight lifting training followed by a protein shake? enhanced muscle growth, reduced muscle growth, it prevents mTOR? I don't know.

 

Apparently is best to take antioxidants in the recovery period. Recently I started to experiment with Na-R-ALA and I love it, I'm just loosing body fat by taking it.

It apparently enhances my Insulin sensivity, thats why I started using before exercise in a fasted state. At least I can see that it does not prevent muscle growth if followed by protein consumption. ALA is another special case, it has antioxidant properties, activates Nrf2 also and some studies show AMPK and Sirt1 activation properties. 

 

I will start to see how Na-R-ALA works after the exercise and just before the protein consumption. 

 

I will include Vitamin C in my daily regimen. For years we have had good supplements/drugs around us for preventing disease and slowing aging but nobody believe it could work, other though that aging and disease was a inevitable thing of luck, a propertie of being alive. Others have tended to believe that to prevent aging we need expensive drugs and very advanced technology.

 

Apparently supplements or drugs that are reliable and effective have been in circulation for quite some time and at low cost:
-Niacin
-Vitamin C
-Glucosamine

 

The cheap oldies.

 

add a good diet, exercise, fasting and you could have some success . Now we have things like NAD+ boosters, Sirt1 activators, Mitochondrial antioxidants, enhanced drugs like liposomal Curcumin, Na-R-ALA, an easy access to machines like ICES, PEMF. 

 

Maybe I'm being very optimistic today?.... well at least if someone has not enough money to spend in "high end drugs" there are some things that can be done with the cheap oldies

Edited by BieraK, 24 June 2019 - 09:33 AM.

[Kevnzworld]

Vitamin C inhibits glycation and the formation of AGE’s. Especially when taken with meals.
https://www.research...s_and_nutrients
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/14962639

[pamojja]

Vitamin C inhibits glycation and the formation of AGE’s. Especially when taken with meals.
..
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/14962639

 

That second study I copied in the following thread, when it still was openly available: http://www.longecity...156#entry797721

 

And is not only remarkable in that the antiglycation-effect doesn't has anything to do with or without meals, but purely the amount of ascorbic acid taken throughout the day:

 

The patients had been encouraged as part of their treatment to supplement AA. Self-reported daily intake varied from 0 to 20 g/day. The plasma AA levels ranged from 11.4 to 517 µmol/L and correlated well with the reported intake. Regression analysis of their GHb and plasma AA values showed a statistically significant inverse association (eg, each 30 µmol/L increase in plasma AA concentration resulted in a decrease of 0.1 in GHb).

 

The usual reference range for plasma ascorbic acid is 0.4-2.0 mg/dl, which is about 22.7-113.6 µmol/L. While the majority of the population is even below 1 mg/dl, 20g-per-day-dosers in this New-Zealand study had up to 9.1 mg/dl. Which compared to non-supplementers would mean a decrease in HbA1c of 1.5%!

Edited by pamojja, 24 June 2019 - 08:56 PM.

[Darryl]

Fruit and vegetable intake would increase plasma vitamin C, and hence in non-supplement users plama C is a marker of F&V intake.This could easily account for the results from the engadin's citation.

 

There have been numerous randomized controlled trials on vitamin C supplementation with all-cause mortality as an endpoint.The Cochrane metaanalysis from 2012 looked at 29 such trials involving vitamin C, and found no effect (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.07)

 

Bjelakovic et al, 2012. Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases. Cochrane database system rev, (3).

 

The body rapidly excretes vitamin C when concentrations exceed about 80 μM, so we must inquire why restricting concentrations beyond this level is adaptive. One reason may be the activity of ascorbate in reducing Fe³⁺ to more reactive Fe²⁺, and Cu²⁺ to more reactive Cu¹⁺, through the Fenton reaction, causing proxidant effects in some tissues, notably lens crystallins leading to cataract. There are other health issues with supplement level vitamin C, for example as its metabolized to oxalate before excretion, supplemental vitamin C is associated wih kidney stones. 

 

Buettnez and Jurkiewicz, 1996. Catalytic metals, ascorbate and free radicals: combinations to avoid. Radiation res, 145(5), pp.532-541.

Fan et al, 2006. Vitamin C mediates chemical aging of lens crystallins by the Maillard reaction in a humanized mouse model. Proc Nati Ac Sci, 103(45), pp.16912-16917.

Rautiainen et al, 2009. Vitamin C supplements and the risk of age-related cataract: a population-based prospective cohort study in women. Am J clin nut, 91(2), pp.487-493.

Thomas et al, 2013. Ascorbic acid supplements and kidney stone incidence among men: a prospective study. JAMA int medi, 173(5), pp.386-388.

 

There's one useful clinical application of vitamin C in those not suffering from scurvy: intravenous injections of high dose vitamin C to potentiate the pro-oxidative effects of some forms of cancer chemotherapy. Otherwise, I can't imagine why anyone who has surveyed the literature, and eats a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, would care a whit about it.

Edited by Darryl, 24 June 2019 - 10:31 PM.

[pamojja]

The body rapidly excretes vitamin C when concentrations exceed about 80 μM, so we must inquire why restricting concentrations beyond this level is adaptive. ..

 

Otherwise, I can't imagine why anyone who has surveyed the literature, and eats a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, would care a whit about it.

 

Above study just posted above yours shows the myth about vitamin C being excreted above certain levels also reached by diet, just not true. Though true that those 20g-per-day-dosers reached only about 6-7 times higher 517 µmol/L by 200 times higher ascorbic acid intake. Plasma levels nevertheless still were 6-7 times higher at all the times!

 

One reason one would care a lot about it are chronic diseases, where one often has nothing more to loose than just to try it, and experience the amazing benefits oneself. And a plasma vitamin C test is easy to get oneself, to prove that the whole literature only testing the minutia of low dose vitamin C not appropriate for catching the efficacy of oral high dose vitamin C.

 

Just came across an experience of Irvine Stone, in which the blood concentration of an individual with cancer taking 150 g/d of ascorbic acid orally was measured:

 

http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/2005/pdf/2005-v20n04-p230.pdf

 

Another was Albert Szent-Gyorgyi. In a 1982 letter,14 Stone tells Szent-Gyorgyi of a friend of his who, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 44 and then treated with surgery and radiation. A few years later, the cancer had metastasized to the pelvic bone and the patient was declared terminal and given about a year to live. However, Stone writes:

“Since he began taking 80 grams a day in 1979, his well-being has been excellent. He says he feels great most of the time, has also been able to continue working every day and lives a fairly normal life of the years since November 1978 when orthodox medicine said he would be dead. Visually he looks more like an athlete than a terminal cancer patient...

In the last few weeks he has been able to improve his well-being by increasing his ascorbate intake to 130 to 150 grams per day! He has been taking oral doses every hour of 5 to 10 grams of a mixture of nine parts sodium ascorbate plus one part ascorbic acid dissolved in water. These doses are well tolerated and within “bowel tolerance” and he has had no trouble from diarrhea except just lately when he had to reduce the 150 grams a day to 130 grams.

I believe his case is a classic and a good demonstration that if sufficient ascorbate is given to fully counteract all the incident stresses, then the cancer can be controlled. If given early enough in this disease, then cancer may no longer be a problem. Up to now we just haven’t realized how big these daily controlling doses have to be.”

Stone adds that the man’s doctor “ran some ascorbate determinations on Joe’s blood and came up with the highest blood levels I ever saw. At one point it was 35 mg%! Our so-called “normal” but scorbutic population averages 1 mg% or less, our kidney threshold is 1.4 mg%...

I would like to see a crash ascorbate program started on terminal cancer patients using doses in the ranges found to keep his cancer under control. Since these “terminals” have been abandoned by orthodox medicine, they have nothing to lose but their ill health.”

 

The usual reference range for plasma ascorbic acid is 0.4-2.0 mg/dL, which is about 22.7-113.6 µmol/L. While the majority of the population is even below 1 mg/dl, 20g-per-day-dosers in the New-Zealand study had up to 9.1 mg/dl. Though I'm not sure mg% correlates to mg/dl, by the statement that 1 mg% would be normal it does seem so. Therefore serum levels of even up to 35 mg/dl or 15380 µmol/L are possible orally, in individuals with such high bowel tolerance due to severe conditions.

 

But sadly in my experience, no actual measurements of oral high dose vitamin C plasma serum levels will ever convince the believer of the NIH myth. As Darryl just exemplified.

Edited by pamojja, 25 June 2019 - 09:17 AM.