D-Ribose?

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Two Amazing Molecules Found in Common Food Items

Allicin

Resveratrol

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Started IP6 Cleanse

On a related note, First Endurance recently released a new multi-vitamin product called Multi-V and it was recently reviewed at cycling news by Nutrition Researcher Dr. Pam Hinton. I was particularly interested in Pam's comments about Iron (under the heading, "Available Iron" in the article). It sounded very critical to me (and very much in agreement with what Sardi discusses in his book) when I first read it and I was somewhat surprised that she did not go a little further and issue more caution about taking in iron from this multi. For example, Sardi in his book recommends that men over 40 and post-menopausal women avoid multi-vitamins with iron and other iron supplements to avoid excess accumulation.

Pam is actually one of the fastest women cyclists in the mid west and I was able to chat with her a little bit about her review of Multi-V and her comments and thoughts about iron a few weeks ago at one of the cross races. She had not heard of Bill Sardi or his book about iron accumulation but as I shared some of the themes of the book, she did seem to agree with what I was sharing.

Now I have been somewhat skeptical of Pam's articles in the past as she has recommended strict adherence to RDA's for all vitamins (even vitamin C) which I find a bit strange. But as I looked further, I saw that her particular area of research is into iron and it's effects on endurance and other areas. And in this discussion, I see that much of this cautionary view of supplements seems to be tied to her knowledge of iron. This is understandable but in the case of vitamin C, I really think it is still off the mark. As I understand it, the pro-oxidant action of vit C and iron has been seen only in vitro (test tube) and not in the human body. Additionally, you have one of the greatest scientists of the century (Linus Pauling) who took gram level dosages of vitamin C and devoted much of his later life to researching vit c. He never warned or discussed problems with iron and vit C (as far as I know). Also take note, that the RDA of vitamin C is only 60 mg. By eating the recommended 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables, you will easily exceed this amount. And what about other animals who synthesize vitamin C in even larger amounts? Why don't they have problems? This is not an exhaustive discussion of course. I am not a scientist. I merely present what I feel are logical approaches to this concern which have influenced me.

There is some discussion of iron and vitamin C in Sardi's book and the Vitamin C Foundation has some discussion of this in their FAQ. Here I will reproduce this discussion for easy reading. Take note of Dr. Cathcart's response. He is a doctor who has a couple decades of experience treating people with gram level doses of vitamin C both orally and IV based.

Q. Orthodox medicine advises people with Hemochromatosis (congenital iron
overload in tissues) to avoid vitamin C? What is the foundation's opinion?

The foundation understands that vitamin C facilitates iron absorption, but
according to our advisers, it also helps to regulate unbound Iron out of the
body and might be a good treatment for this condition. People with
Hemochromatosis can take steps to reduce iron in the digestive tract at the
same time they are taking vitamin C orally.

A., Opinion of Robert Cathcart, III, MD (orthomed.com) :

    My clinical experience would indicate that vitamin C increases iron
    absorption when iron is needed. It seems to increase excretion of iron when
    there is an excessive amount of iron. Therefore, vitamin C might be a good
    treatment of Hemochromatosis.

    This theoretical difficulty concerning C is typical of how the orthodoxy
    will expand a theory into a fact without any evidence.

    docc. 

A. Selva Kumar, MD opinion

    I have managed many cases of iron overload because I see many Thallasaemia
    trait cases where the older patients usually have anemia but high ferritin
    levels. I continue giving 30 grams sodium ascorbate infusion weekly or
    biweekly for their chronic conditions, yet their ferritin DID NOT INCREASE
    and you see improvement in their anemia, with added folic, vitamin E and
    oral vitamin c at 3 to 6 grams per day.

    One example is my nurse 86 years mother with ischemic heart and heart valve
    defect, I give her same IV vitamin C over the last two years, still well,
    her ferritin remains below 300 mg/dl .

    Quite a number of 'heart patient' have elevated ferritin levels unless we
    check for it.

    My experience with ferritin is in cancer patients, those with high baseline
    ferritin and IV vitamin C given (up to 120 grams per day) if the ferritin
    increases, the patient usually succumbed to their cancer, this is true for
    those with chemo or radiation.

    I read a very good article on Hemochromatosis and I will forward to you
    because that article made me decide to continue high oral and injection
    vitamin c despite the orthodox advice.

    I give advice to those patients, avoid high iron containing diet and take
    oral vitamin C separately from food.

    Dr Mercola also wrote a good article on iron, he believes in giving
    phytates to reduce absortion.

    dr selva 


Paper recommended by Dr. Selva ANTIOXIDANTS FOR HAEMOCHROMATOSIS...

A., Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD opinion

    I cover this issue on pages 394 to 398 of my book VITAMIN C, INFECTIOUS
    DISEASES AND TOXINS. It's not as clear-cut as other issues, but high-dose
    vitamin C over the long run is probably as good for Hemochromatosis as it
    is for other conditions.

    Tom Levy 

 

Note:  There are other prudent approaches to reducing Iron overload according
to health reporter and author Bill Sardi:

    "The control and removal (chelation) of excess iron in the body is also
    important to remove the primary rusting agent in the the body that has the
    potential, when released from binding proteins, to damage tissues and DNA
    [Mutation Researdh 519: 151, 2002] Iron-binding nutrients knows as
    bioflavonids (citrus, quercetin, cranberry, bluebery, milk thistle) and
    from whole grains (IP6 rice bran extract) bind and remove iron efficiently".
    - Bill Sardi, The New Truth About Vitamins & Minerals, Here & Now Books,
    2003. Pg 24.

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