"Ascorbic acid is an

essential food for

human beings.
People who receive
no ascorbic acid
(vitamin C) become
sick and die." --
Linus Pauling
 Scurvy

• Common in soldiers, sailors, travellers

• Hippocrates recorded in 400BC
 James Lind
• British naval doctor
• First clinical trial
• Test for citrus fruit
cures scurvy (1747)
• Pioneered health
benefits for sailors
• Preventive medicine
• Treatise on the
Scurvy, 1753
Scurvy in other animals

1907
Scurvy in other animals
 Vitamins
• 1912 – Food deficiency and vitamines

• 1928 – arctic peoples do not get scurvy

 Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid

• 1933 isolated

• 1934 synthesised
 Synthesis of Vitamin C

Glucose Vitamin C
L-ascorbate
 What does Vitamin C do?
• Collagen

• Carnitine

• Norepinephrine

• Antioxidant

• Metabolism of cholesterol
(?)
 How much Vitamin C?

• 10 mg per day can prevent Scurvy

 Recommended Daily Dosage
• UK 40 mg per day

• WHO 45 mg per day

• Canada 60 mg per day

• USA 60 – 95 mg per day

 Alternative recommendations

• Linus Pauling Institute 400 mg per day

• Professor Roc Ordman 500 mg per 12 hours
• Vitamin C Foundation 3,000 – 30,000 mg
• Colorado Integrative Medical Centre
– 6,000–12,000 mg per day
• Linus Pauling personal use
– 6,000–18,000 mg per day
 Prevention of Chronic Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease

• Coronary Heart Disease

• Stroke

• Cancer

• Lead Toxicity
 Treatment of Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Vasodilation
• Hypertension
• Cancer
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Common Cold
 Sources
• 5 servings of fruit and vegetables
– 200 mg per day (average)
• Supplements
• Natural vs Synthetic
• Mineral ascorbates
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids
• Ascorbate and vitamin C metabolites
• Ascorbyl palmitate
• Natural Vitamin Complex