Full Article

How Does Vitamin C Therapy Work?

The Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a very effective antioxidant that helps protect our bodies from harmful free radicals and toxins that we are exposed to daily. Vitamin C is also needed in collagen synthesis, making vitamin C an essential requirement in our daily diets. The recommended daily dietary allowance or RDA for vitamin C as of the year 2000 is 60 mg for both males and females. It must be noted however that this RDA is for the prevention of diseases that are related to vitamin C deficiency such as coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, cataracts, gout and immunity related conditions such as the common cold and flu.  

Vitamin C Therapy

But the use of vitamin C is no longer limited to it being a preventive measure. Vitamin C therapy is essentially the intake of vitamin C beyond the daily RDA either in supplement or in pure intravenous form. Although vitamin C taken within the limits of the RDA is considered nontoxic, there has been much debate regarding whether or not the dosages or megadoses used in vitamin C therapy are toxic.

Uses of Vitamin C Therapy

The use of vitamin C therapy in treating respiratory infections such as the flu and the common cold is perhaps the most widely accepted use for vitamin C therapy. One study examined the effectiveness of using megadoses of vitamin C in treating cold and flu symptoms in order to prove the claims regarding vitamin C therapy in treating such symptoms. The subjects of the study were given 1,000 mg of vitamin C every hour for the first six hours, instead of being treated with decongestants and pain relievers. The results of the study show that the overall flu and cold symptoms of the subjects were decreased by 85% as compared to the subjects that were given cold and flu medicines.

Meanwhile, the use of vitamin C therapy in treating cancer is not yet scientifically established as of today. Further studies are required to prove the effectiveness and safety of vitamin C therapy in cancer patients.