|
|
|
|
Vitamin C
|
|
Vitamin C is one of the most popular and well know antioxidant vitamins worldwide. As an antioxidant, vitamin C protects LDL cholesterol from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Vitamin C may also prevent heart disease by keeping blood platelets from clumping together and reducing the stiffness of arteries.
Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties are believed to be especially valuable in protecting smokers and those exposed to smoke from the negative effects of free radicals. The results of a recent study showed that 3 grams of vitamin C reduced the free radical damage and LDL cholesterol oxidation experienced by cigarette smokers.
Other studies indicate that Vitamin C may also be helpful in cutting the risk of most cancers by inhibiting the production of cancer-causing nitrosamines, derived from nitrites found in variety of foods.
While Vitamin C deficiency is not common among those living in developed countries experts believe that most people do not consume enough vitamin C. Smokers often have a lower than average level of vitamin C and consequently require a higher daily intake to ensure healthy levels.
The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C is 75 mg per day for women and 90 mg per day for men. For smokers, the recommended daily allows is 110 mg and 125 mg respectively. However, many studies have investigated the effects of a large range of higher vitamin C intakes (100–1,000 mg per day or more), often not finding the “optimum” intake within that range.
While daily supplementation of a few grams of vitamin C has caused some people to develop diarrhea many individual who take ten times that amount do not experience any adverse effects. A review of the some researched has concluded that high intakes (2–4 grams per day) are well tolerated by healthy people.
Block, G., et al. "Fruit, vegetables and cancer prevention: A review of the epidemiological evidence." Nutr Cancer, 18: 1-15, 1992.
Block, G. "Vitamin C and cancer prevention: The epidemiologic evidence, " Am J Clin Nutr, 53: 270S-81S, 1991.
Balz F. Antioxidant vitamins and heart disease. Presented at the 60th Annual Biology Colloquium, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, February 25, 1999.
Wilkinson IB, Megson I, MacCallum H, et al. Oral vitamin C reduces arterial stiffness and platelet aggregation in humans. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1999;34:690–3.
AntioxidantGuide.org does not sell or recommend products. If you are interested in purchasing products and don't know where to begin,
we recommend that you visit the site NutritionalTree.com to read what other people
are saying about various products. NutritionalTree.com collects unbiased user reviews for popular health supplements.
|
|
|
Featured Articles:
The Oxidation Reaction Theory of Aging
"Aging is a disease. The human life span simply reflects the level of free radical oxidative damage that accumulates in cells. When enough damage accumulates, cells can't survive properly anymore and they just give up."
E.R. Stadtman
NIH researcher on aging
Aging Gracefully Using Antioxidants
by Carmia Borak
Over the past three decades there has been a increasing amount of evidence linking vitamins and minerals to having a notable effect in protecting the human body from aging.
|
|
About Us
