Does Vitamin C Influence Neurodegenerative Diseases and Psychiatric Disorders?

[SilentEchoes]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

The aim of this review is to update the current state of knowledge of the role of Vitamin C on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic sclerosis, as well as psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

Human studies have shown that Vit C deficiency among PD patients is widespread. The effect of Vit C on dopamine system has also been observed. Izumi et al. showed that PC12 cells treated with paraquat (50 µM, 24 h) displayed increased levels of cytosolic and vesicular dopamine, whereas pretreatment with Vit C (0.3–10 µM, 24 h) suppressed the elevations of intracellular dopamine and almost completely prevented paraquat (organophosphate) toxicity.

Vit C is thought to be involved in neuroprotection against glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity occurring in PD [Ballaz et al.] In in vitro study performed on dopaminergic neurons of human origin showed that Vit C prevented cell death following prolonged exposure to glutamate. Glutamate induced toxicity in a dose-dependent way via the stimulation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and metabotropic receptors and to a lesser degree by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and kainate receptors, whereas Vit C (25–300 µM) administration protected cells against glutamate excitotoxity (also relevant to ALS).

Vitamin C helps maintain integrity and function of several processes in the central nervous system (CNS), including neuronal maturation and differentiation, myelin formation, synthesis of catecholamine (e.g. dopamine and serotonin), modulation of neurotransmission and antioxidant protection.

The brain is an organ particularly exposed to oxidative stress and free radicals’ activity, which is associated with high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and high cell metabolism rate. Since neurological diseases are characterized by increased free radical generation (reactive oxygen species or ROS) and the highest concentrations of Vitamin C in the body are found in the brain and neuroendocrine tissues, it is suggested that Vitamin C may change the course of neurological diseases and display potential therapeutic roles.

Ascorbic acid, being an antioxidant, acts directly by scavenging reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced during normal cell metabolism. People cannot synthesize their own Vitamin C and it is not produced by intestinal microflora (gut microbes), making us strictly dependent on dietary intake for adequate amounts of Vit. C.

Vit C is important for proper functioning of the nervous system and its main role in the brain is its participation in the antioxidant defense. Apart from this, Vit C plays a role of an enzymatic co-factor participating in biosynthesis of such substances as collagen, carnitine, tyrosine and peptide hormones. It has also been indicated that myelin formation in Schwann cells could be stimulated by ascorbic acid.

Vit C ability to alleviate seizure severity as well as reduction of seizure-induced damage have been proved. Vit C treatment has been reported to ameliorate neuropathological alterations as well as memory impairments and the neurodegenerative changes in rats exposed to neurotoxic substances like aluminum.

[MarionP]

Very nice. An orange a day keeps the doctor away.

[SilentEchoes in reply to MarionP]

Red bell peppers are better source of Vit C . An apple a day aids in detoxification.

[Jennyjenny2]

Great find. Thank you, SilentEchoes, and it’s been under our noses all the time!

With the supplements that my husband is taking along with his madopar, in your opinion 1,000 mg of liposomal Vit C wouldn’t be excessive?

[SilentEchoes in reply to Jennyjenny2]

I've been looking at different protocols for ALS, one is 1000mg day another is 1 gram 3x daily of ascorbic acid. For PD 300 mg 3x daily, in hospital it was 1000 mg IV 2x daily. Let me know what you find out in your research 😊

[Jennyjenny2 in reply to SilentEchoes]

I read recently if high doses of the three types of Vit C (ascorbic, liposomal, IV) are taken simultaneously, they work synergistically. It was in the book ‘Curing the Incurable - Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins’ by Dr Thomas Levy. Also Dr Suzanne Humphries lectures on the benefits of Vit C on YouTube. I take 2000mg daily myself, but hadn’t thought of it for my husband with Pd. Hope this helps 🙂

[SilentEchoes in reply to Jennyjenny2]

Here's a link to Linus Pauling Institute discussion about the different forms of Vit. C. My takeaway is that it might be beneficial to use mixed forms because Vit. C is metabolized through different pathways in the body. Taking ascorbic acid with food also increases bioavailability.

*Park Bear's comment on buffered Vit. C.

lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vit...

[JayPwP]

Two thoughts:

1. Vit C pharmaceutical (measurable in exact quantity) is just the antioxidant cover of vit. C and not wholesome. It requires nutrients leeched from the body for synthesis.

2. Vit C will increase iron absorbed into body, resulting in higher level of iron in body tissues. Iron accumulation in the brain is linked to PD

Any thoughts on this?

[park_bear in reply to JayPwP]

I did not fully understand your point number one, but no, vitamin C is vitamin C and does not require "leaching" compounds from the body for synthesis. If you disagree please provide a reference.

[JayPwP in reply to park_bear]

I miswrote. What I want to say is asorbic acid is only the antioxidant cover / shell of vit C, the bioflavonoids and phytochemicals that are present inside the shell, as part of vit C complex (e.g. acai berry derived vit C) are missing in the synthetic version. Also synthetic vitamin C is often derived from GMO corn...

Reference:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

"Although synthetic and food-derived vitamin C appear to be equally bioavailable in humans, ingesting vitamin C as part of a whole food is considered preferable because of the concomitant consumption of numerous other macro- and micronutrients and phytochemicals, which will confer additional health benefits. "

[park_bear in reply to JayPwP]

Asorbic acid is vitamin C.

Agree that natural sources contain additional important nutrients.

[JayPwP in reply to park_bear]

IMO, vitamin C does not operate alone. It requires co-factors to function and prevent its degradation. Best known of these is vitamin P (using the older name), which are a group of water-soluble polyphenols known as flavonoids (the modern name). These important compounds are found in varying degrees in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Ascorbic acid is not the entirety of vitamin C, rather it can be described as the “antioxidant wrapper” that co-occurs with the other parts of vitamin C: flavonoids, rutin, the enzyme tyrosinase, and several other factors that benefit blood vessel strength and the oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells. It is best not to think of vitamins as a “thing”, but rather an “activity”, which requires the interaction of many items to function. The ascorbic acid that is added to processed food is just the ascorbic acid—it is devoid of all of the co-occurring factors of vitamin C.

[SilentEchoes in reply to JayPwP]

I wrote a comment awhile ago on why you can't supplement your way to good health.

Supplements can't replace a healthy diet, a healthy lifestyle and a healthy living environment.

That said, I also understand causation for the epidemic of neurological injuries (these are not naturally occurring diseases) we collectively suffer and how our over exposure to environmental neurotoxins overwhelms our natural defense systems and supplementation becomes necessary in addition to the pillars of health I just named.

Studies have shown that melatonin synthesis from sunlight becomes impaired, so even if you're doing everything possible to support health and healing but can't synthesize enough melatonin (the body's most prevalent antioxidant and precursor to glutathione) then you're going to have to supplement until you heal enough to bring your body back into balance. It's not an either or choice - do both.

[JayPwP in reply to SilentEchoes]

I agree

[park_bear]

I take about 10 g of calcium ascorbate, mixed in with my drink, during the course of the day. That has replaced the docusate sodium I was using to prevent constipation.

I use calcium ascorbate instead of ascorbic acid to avoid excess acidity. 10 g of it only contains less than 1 g of calcium, so it is not excessive calcium intake.

[SilentEchoes in reply to park_bear]

Great point!

To expand on this information: Calcium Ascorbate is also called buffered Vit C if you're looking to buy some.

Here's a link to Linus Pauling Pauling Institute on the different forms of Vit C

lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vit...

This link discusses the advantages of the buffered foem over straight ascorbic acid

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[laglag in reply to SilentEchoes]

I'v been taking Emergen C, regular and immune, nearly everyday for approximately 10 years. It started helping in about 3 weeks of taking it everyday. It helps pain & stiffness in my thighs & groin and it gives me a bit of energy. The ingredients are listed below. Sorry if it's printed big but is was the only way I knew how to send the file.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants help protect your cells against the effects of free radicals, which can damage cells.*

Vitamin C is essential in maintaining a healthy immune system, and is critical to the formation of collagen, a structural protein that supports the skin and internal organs.*

Zinc is crucial to the immune system. It helps maintain white blood cell activity, and helps support antioxidant protection.*

Manganese is an essential trace mineral needed for healthy skin, bone, and cartilage formation.*

B VITAMINS

B vitamins play a key role in metabolism for energy in a daily diet.*

Thiamin (B1) plays a key role in the body's metabolic cycle for generating energy; helps in the metabolism of carbohydrates; and helps maintain a healthy nervous system.*

Riboflavin (B2) is critical in breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats so your body can use them for energy and repair.*

Niacin (B3) is a component of coenzymes that are involved in producing energy and building larger molecules such as fatty acids and some life-sustaining hormones.*

Vitamin B6 plays a role in forming energy-rich compounds and niacin, red blood cell and fat metabolism, nervous system functions, and modulation of hormones. Vitamin B6 is a dietary important nutrient because the body cannot make it.*

Folic Acid (B9) produces healthy effects in the body and cells by functioning with enzymes. Folic acid works with two other B vitamins, B12 & B6, to help maintain healthy levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the blood.*

Vitamin B12 is used in helping metabolize food for energy and making healthy red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells help carry oxygen to cells and may help promote feelings of energy.*

Pantothenic Acid (B5) is an essential nutrient. A form of pantothenic acid is used in the body to help generate energy from fat, carbohydrates, and proteins.*

ELECTROLYTES/OTHER NUTRIENTS

Electrolytes and energy metabolism minerals support healthy hydration and support energy production and use. Electrolytes can be lost through sweating during exercise.*

Calcium supports healthy hydration, muscle function, and also plays a critical role in the electrical conduction system of the heart.*

Magnesium supports healthy hydration and muscle function. Over three hundred enzymes require magnesium as a cofactor.*

Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland in the brain, and is considered a hormone of darkness (produced in the absence of light) that is linked to sleep and wake cycles. When your surrounding is dark, your body produces more melatonin; when your surrounding is bright, your body produces less melatonin. As we age, melatonin production also decreases.

Sodium supports healthy hydration, nerve and muscle function, and blood pH.*

Potassium supports healthy hydration and is especially important for normal muscle contraction.*

Phosphorus is an essential element used in the body as a structural component and participates in energy production and storage.*

Calories35

Total Carbohydrate8 g3%†

Sugars6 g*

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid, zinc ascorbate)1,000 mg1,667%

Thiamin (as thiamine hydrochloride) (Vit. B1) 0.38 mg25%

Riboflavin (as riboflavin-5’-phosphate) (Vit. B2)0.43 mg25%

Niacin (Vit. B3)4 mg20%

Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride)10 mg500%

Folic Acid (Vit. B9)100 mcg25%

Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin)25 mcg417%

Pantothenic Acid (as calcium pantothenate) (Vit. B5) 2.5 mg

25%

Calcium (as calcium carbonate, monobasic calcium phosphate,

tribasic calcium phosphate, calcium pantothenate)‡50 mg5%

Phosphorus (as monobasic potassium phosphate, monobasic

calcium phosphate, monobasic sodium phosphate,

tribasic calcium phosphate)‡38 mg4%

Magnesium (as magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate)‡60 mg15%

Zinc (as zinc ascorbate)2 mg13%

Manganese (as manganese gluconate)0.5 mg25%

Chromium (as chromium picolinate)10 mcg8%

Sodium (as sodium bicarbonate, monobasic

sodium phosphate)‡65 mg3%

Potassium (as potassium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate,

monobasic potassium phosphate)‡200 mg6%

‡Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

*Daily Value not established. ‡Electrolytes

Other Ingredients: Fructose, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Malic Acid. Contains <2% of: Acacia, Beta-Carotene (color), Dried Orange Juice Concentrate (color and flavor), Glycine, L-Aspartic Acid, Natural Flavors, Orange Oil, Silicon Dioxide, Tartaric Acid, Tocopherols (to preserve freshness).

Here is a link to their website.

emergenc.com/our-ingredient...

[SilentEchoes in reply to laglag]

Thanks for sharing, it will help a lot of people. We use Emergenc in my family too. When I show the packet to neurologists you can almost see the lightbulb appear above their head. It's an easy way to get your vitamins if you can't swallow pills. I've also tried vitamin patches from PatchMD.

[ssrs in reply to SilentEchoes]

My HwP takes Emergen C daily. I take the liposomal vitamin C. Should I have him take the liposomal vit C as well as the Emergen C? Thanks!!