Where Does The Vitamin C Go?

As I have mentioned before here, I have problems with Vitamin C. I have to take a lot of it to keep my blood serum levels in the low normal range  I try to take 4-6 grams per day,  which is roughly  6,600-10,000 times the recommended daily allowance. Just to retain low normal levels.

Kinda interesting, no?

Now Vitamin C is essential for collagen, and without it the body's connective tissue will break down, a disease known as scurvy (Yo-ho-ho!). I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which is a problem with collagen. Most doctors assume me low vitamin C levels are somehow related to the EDS.

But I hate assumptions.  Just because something makes sense theoretically or logically, does not mean it is true. And assumptions are dangerous to people like me. Assumptions block the search for actual answers. And answers are what I need here, folks.

Because I have been seriously supplementing my C for six months straight and I am no less stretchy than I ever was. I think the C is not being used to fortify me ligaments. So where is it going?  That's what I want to know.

Perhaps I am not absorbing it. This is a possibility. However the rheumatologist -who is very up on nutrition asked me when I told her how much I take (and after she had picked herself up off the floor) "Does it not hurt to pee?"
"What?"
That much Vitamin C should make your urine very acidic. Don't you feel that?"
"No. But that would only happen if I'm excreting it, right? If I am absorbing it, would it make my urine acidic?"
"No. I don't think so..."

So I don't think I am flushing it either, although that has not been tested.

So what am I doing with it?

So I did a little research: Vitamin C is used for a lot of stuff besides collagen. It does a lot at the  cellular level: It is an anti-oxidant, and so helps remove free radicals. Of course I never knew exactly what a free radical is (as opposed to an expensive radical or even a free conformist) or why it needs to be removed. Usually I like free stuff. Of course, if I am paying some kind of biological  rent on the radicals, then they have to go.  Free radicals may be one thing, but freeloading radicals are quite another. (although most radicals I know would never dream of paying rent).

C also helps defend against reactive oxygen species -whatever they are,- apparently. Who knew so much social unrest existed in our mitochondria?

Vitamin C also helps with carnitine synthesis. Interesting: My carnitine levels are low. I guess I need that C.

There was a bunch of other stuff too. It guards against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular(?) disease. The health insurance people will be pleased to know that. Or maybe not. I am sure they wish for my death every month.

So with all that information on-board, I am thinking that my levels need to be higher than "low normal". So despite the humongous supplements I already take, I am thinking I need more.

Now for the sake of comparison: I oversupplement B12 because me levels were low, and I take about 83,000 times the recommend dose of this. My B12 levels are now sky high. AND my idiopathic syrinx is shrinking. Are these two facts related? I don't know. I know there is some anecdotal evidence that B12 deficiency can cause syringomyelia, but (of course) it has not been studied. So yeah, I am taking me B12 daily.

However to achieve the same saturation levels with C as I did with B12 would be a bit difficult. The RDA of C is 75mg per day. So if I was going to do the same thing with C as I  have with B12, I would have to take... about 6 kilos of C per day. That is over thirteen (13) pounds -I mean POUNDS of vitamin C per day.

I have trouble with 6 grams.

Now I am not advocating that myself or anyone take such silly levels of C (silly levels of B12 I am all for) But I am going to continue to research the Vitamin C angle and try and find more information; like maybe some other deficiency is impeding full absorption? 

Because I still want to know where it is all going.

Comments

[djproscribe]

I discovered this summer that the odd blood blister like spots I was getting on my forearms and the backs of my hands in response to any bumps or scrapes have disappeared. What changed? I went back to eating huge amounts of fruit. I live in Northern California where berries are (comparatively) cheap.

My gums are also in better shape.

Is your skin less fragile? Stuff less likely to bleed? That may be where the C is going.

My question -- why does added zinc in things make me woozy and nauseous? I can eat shellfish and nuts with no problem. Airborne darn near did me in.

I take a fair amount of B12, but have not be dxed with Chiari. Then again, it took til 55 for me and 20 for my son to get the ED dx.

Djproscribe

[djproscribe]

I discovered this summer that the odd blood blister like spots I was getting on my forearms and the backs of my hands in response to any bumps or scrapes have disappeared. What changed? I went back to eating huge amounts of fruit. I live in Northern California where berries are (comparatively) cheap.

My gums are also in better shape.

Is your skin less fragile? Stuff less likely to bleed? That may be where the C is going.

My question -- why does added zinc in things make me woozy and nauseous? I can eat shellfish and nuts with no problem. Airborne darn near did me in.

I take a fair amount of B12, but have not be dxed with Chiari. Then again, it took til 55 for me and 20 for my son to get the ED dx.

Djproscribe

[One Sick Mother]

No, my skin has always been pretty tough, if thin. It does tend to gape once broken, but it is not very fragile to begin with, which is good.

I have had less issues with bruising now than when I was younger, regardless of vitamin C levels -don't know why.

On the zinc thing. I don't know enough about it, but my guess is an imblaance. Zinc needs to be in balance with other minerals, copper and I think calcium and magnesium (or is it manganese?) But don't quote me on the latter two. If you are low in one of the others, the extra zinc could be throwing your system out of whack.

Having just said that however, I can't take airbourne either. My problem with it is the echinaeca. Instant asthma attack. That stuff is poison to me. Dunno why.

-OMS