T.R.I.-C-500 - How it Works

Background

Common treatments to relieve the symptoms of colds and flu⁴ are the use of nasal sprays, ingestion of depressive antihistamines and swallowing cough syrups which may contain the narcotic codeine (methylmorphine) and stomach-irritating analgesics like aspirin. Many clinicians also prescribe antibiotics for these symptoms, which do little good and only add considerable costs to viral ailments. Such treatment has not been shown to even prevent many secondary infections⁵. On the other hand, vitamin C (ascorbic acid, ascorbate) has several decades of clinical history proving it effective for treating both severe colds and the flu and preventing reoccurrence.

Current RDI for vitamin C

While the Recommend Daily Intake is currently a modest 60 to 90 mg, which is calculated as the minimum intake to only prevent serious human illness and harm, the amount of vitamin C which should be suggested to reverse a cold or flu is much higher. The current, suggested RDI is also simply far below the level necessary to quickly relieve symptoms and prevent recurring respiratory illness³. Such has been shown in a large study in a clinical setting where the doses given were from 3 to 6 grams per day with very successful results⁶. This report is consistent with several earlier, smaller studies performed with fewer patients that were summarized and broadly distributed by the renowned L. Pauling^1,2.

Mechanisms of Action

Many of the mechanisms for vitamin C assisted destruction of viral and bacterial agents are understood. One critical process involves the peroxidation of the virus particle by protective neutrophil cells; the most common type of leukocytes (white blood cells of the immune system which rapidly increase in number during infection). Neutrophils and Natural Killer (NK) cells are the cells which engulf many types of viral and bacterial particles and then “digest” these by releasing powerful proteolytic enzymes (NK cells) and hypochlorous acid (bleach biosynthesized from hydrogen peroxide) into the intruders. Vitamin C protects the tissues surrounding active neutrophils and NK cells from the deleterious effects of cytotoxins released during the phagocytic (virus destroying) process. Neutrophils are most efficient at destroying infections in tissues with adequate levels of vitamin C but are prevented from proper function when tissue levels of C are low; efficient infection fighting requires high levels of vitamin C.

Fatty Acid Oxidation

Vitamin C is oxidized during the biosynthesis of the fatty acid transport biochemical, L-carnitine. When tissues are deprived of L-carnitine due to vitamin C insufficiency, fatty acids can no longer be transported into the mitochondria and this key process for fat oxidation and energy production is shut down. By enhancing the transport and oxidation of fatty acids, L-carnitine helps maintain proper bloodstream levels of lipid particles. Adequate dietary intake of vitamin C helps maintain proper lipid levels by keeping L-carnitine levels as high as possible.

Collagen Biosynthesis

Vitamin C is an absolute requirement for two unusual amino acids critical for the biosynthesis of all members of the collagen protein family – key structural proteins in connective tissues, bones and portions of basement membranes. Vitamin C is enzymatically oxidized in large amounts during the biosynthesis of hydroxyproline from proline and hydroxylysine from lysine, making adequate vitamin C intake a daily requirement. The hydroxylysine in collagen is often specifically glycosylated by a vitamin C requiring enzyme, which then allows collagen to participate in basement membrane formation. People with low vitamin C intakes often exhibit serious pathologies of connective tissues and skin which can be simply corrected with more C⁷.

In Combinations and Multivitamins

Vitamin C is recommended along with zinc for a number of common respiratory illnesses⁸. Zinc seems to inhibit rhinovirus binding to human cells, by out-competing it for specific cell binding sites, thus inhibiting the infection from spreading. This also allowing neutrophils and other leukocytes, more opportunity to find, engulf and destroy these invaders, thus speeding patient recovery.

References

1. De Lorenzo A, et al. (2001). Determination of the blood ascorbic acid level after administration of slow-release vitamin C. La Clinical Terapeutica 152: 87.
2. Pauling, L (1970). Vitamin C and the Common Cold. W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco.
3. Pauling, L (1974). Are recommended daily allowances for vitamin C adequate? Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 71: 4442-4446.
4. Gwaltney, JM et al. (1966). Rhinovirus infections in an industrial population I: the occurrence of illness. New England Journal of Medicine 275: 1261-1268.
5. Bertino JS (2002). Cost burden of viral respiratory infections: issues for formulary decision makers. Am. J. Med. 112 (6A): 42S-49S.
6. Gorton HC and Jarvis K (1999). The effectiveness in vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. J. Manipulative Physiol. Ther. 22: 530-533.
7. Dembure PP, et al. (1987). Ascorbate regulation of collagen biosynthesis in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, type VI. Metabolism, 36: 687-691.
8. Wintergerst ES, et al., (2006). Immune-enhancing role of vitamin C and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 50: 85-94.

Supplement Facts - T.R.I.-C-500

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Reference: ConsumerLab.com, Magnesium Supplement Reviews and Quality Ratings, Posted 5/19/09

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ConsumerLab.com, New Product Review: Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements, Posted 4/1/09

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Reference: June 22, 2007, FDA @ http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dscgmps7.html