Side effect None if taken as recommended. Diarrhea may result with high dose.

Observe the power of vitamin C:

To protect against the ravages of oxidation.

Cut a fresh Lemon. Cut an apple in half and immediately squeeze lemon juice (abundance of vitamin C) on the cut side of one half. Let both the treated and untreated halves sit side by side for 15 minutes. The half protected by vitamin C will remain white and fresh for almost a whole day, while the unprotected half will turn light brown, then dark brown, as it oxidizes (reacts with oxygen in the air) - a demonstration of the protective power of vitamin C against oxidation.

Numerous studies have found that vitamin C supplements taken at a dose of 1,000 mg daily or more can significantly reduce symptoms of colds and help you get over a cold faster.^1,2,3

According to a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 92 runners, taking 600 mg of vitamin C for 21 days prior to a race made a significant difference in the incidence of sickness afterwards.⁴ Within 2 weeks after the race, 68% of the runners taking placebo developed cold symptoms, versus only 33% of those taking the vitamin C supplement.

Regular use of vitamin C may reduce the risk of cataracts, probably by fighting free radicals that damage the lens of the eye. In an observational study of 50,800 nurses followed for 8 years, it was found that people who used vitamin C supplements for more than 10 years had a 45% lower rate of cataract development.⁵

Observational studies involving a total of over 4,000 people suggest that regular use of vitamin C supplements may help prevent macular degeneration.^6,7

18-month double-blind trial, a daily supplement containing 750 mg of vitamin C, 200 IU of vitamin E, 50 mcg of selenium, and 20,000 IU of beta-carotene (along with other ingredients) actually stopped progression of macular degeneration.⁸

One study found that vitamin C supplementation at 500 mg or more daily was connected to a lower incidence of bladder cancer.⁹

An early study tested vitamin C in 1,100 terminally ill cancer patients. One hundred patients received 10,000 mg daily of vitamin C, while 1,000 other patients (the control group) received no treatment. Those taking the vitamin survived more than 4 times longer on average (210 days) than those in the control group (50 days).¹⁰ A large (1,826 subjects) follow-up study by the same researchers found a nearly doubled survival rate (343 days versus 180 days) in vitamin C-treated patients whose cancers were deemed "incurable," as compared to untreated controls.¹⁰

Vitamin C supplements are helpful for atherosclerosis.^11,12,13

A 30-day double-blind study of 39 individuals taking medications for hypertension, treatment with 500 mg of vitamin C daily can reduce blood pressure by about 10%.¹⁴

1. Hemila H. Does vitamin C alleviate symptoms of the common cold? A review of current evidence. Scand J Infect Dis. 1994;26:1-6.

2. Hemila H. Vitamin C and the common cold. Br J Nutr. 1992;67:3-16.

3. Hemila H. Vitamin C supplementation and common cold symptoms: factors affecting the magnitude of the benefit. Med Hypotheses. 1999;52:171-178.

4. Peters EM, Goetzsche JM, Grobbelaar B, et al. Vitamin C supplementation reduces the incidence of postrace symptoms of upper-respiratory-tract infection in ultramarathon runners. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993;57:170-174.

5. Hankinson SE, Stampfer MJ, Seddon JM, et al. Nutrient intake and cataract extraction in women: a prospective study. BMJ. 1992;305:335-339.

6. Mares-Perlman JA, Klein R, Klein BE, et al. Relationship between age-related maculopathy and intake of vitamin and mineral supplements [abstract]. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993;34:1133.

7. Mares-Perlman JA, Klein R, Klein BE, et al. Association of zinc and antioxidant nutrients with age-related maculopathy. Arch Ophthalmol. 1996;114:991-997.

8. Richter S. Multicenter ophthalmic and nutritional age-related macular degeneration study-Part 2: antioxidant intervention and conclusions. J Am Optom Assoc. 1996;67:30-49.

9. Bruemmer B, White E, Vaughan TL, et al. Nutrient intake in relation to bladder cancer among middle-aged men and women. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144:485-495.

10. Cameron E, Campbell A. Innovation vs. quality control: an "unpublishable" clinical trial of supplemental ascorbate in incurable cancer. Med Hypotheses. 1991;36:185-189.

11. Ness AR, Powles JW, Khaw KT. Vitamin C and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review. J Cardiovasc Risk. 1996;3:513-521.

12. Simon JA. Vitamin C and cardiovascular disease: a review. J Am Coll Nutr. 1992;11:107-125.

13. Trout DL. Vitamin C and cardiovascular risk factors. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991;53(suppl 1):322S-325S.

This is a statement of nutritional support. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to medically diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your health care provider before using any supplement.