More Vitamin C notes

From: http://www.caloriesperhour.com  

It's not that vitamin C is the new weight loss wonder drug, but the discovery that consuming an inadequate amount of the vitamin can hinder weight loss.

Does too little Vit C slow metabolism?

According to researchers from Arizona State University, individuals consuming sufficient amounts of vitamin C oxidize (burn) 30% more fat during moderate exercise than those who consume insufficient amounts. In addition, too little vitamin C in the bloodstream has been shown to correlate with increased body fat and waist measurements.

The US RDA (recommended daily allowance) of vitamin C for adults 19 years and older is 90 mg for males and 75 mg for females. Since our bodies can’t manufacture vitamin C, we must obtain it through our diet.

Roughly 40% of men and 38% of women 19 and older don't get enough.

from --  Strategies for Healthy Weight Loss: From Vitamin C to the Glycemic Response
Carol S. Johnston

Vitamin C status is inversely related to body mass. Individuals with adequate vitamin C status oxidize 30% more fat during a moderate exercise bout than individuals with low vitamin C status; thus, vitamin C depleted individuals may be more resistant to fat mass loss.

Vitamin C status is associated with tissue carnitine concentrations and fat oxidation and may represent a modifiable condition that would impact fat oxidation thereby affecting body composition and body mass.


From Wipi -- Carnitine is a quaternary ammonium compound biosynthesized from the amino acids lysine and methionine.[1] In living cells, it is required for the transport of fatty acids from the cytosol into themitochondria during the breakdown of lipids (fats) for the generation of metabolic energy. It is often sold as a nutritional supplement.

Note: Vit C seems to reduce hunger and raise blood sugar or blood sugar measurement. Perhaps it is just sparing glucose, but the effect seems to be real. 

to slow digestion:
The glycemic response to food ingestion has been associated with subsequent hunger; complementary foods, such as vinegar or peanut products, when added to meals, may attenuate meal-time glycemia promoting satiety and reduced energy intake.

Legumes, Lectins. Yum, slow digestion, why not include beans, the undigestible. Let the bacteria digest them, then digest the bacteria.

Vitamin C

FT: May 17, 2011, BG 4.6, 1000 UI Vit C, 1/2 hr later BG 5.9 and I was no longer hungry. Is it the BG that is changing or the measurement? Is this related to the change in energy levels that I feel? 1000 UI in the form of ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate Jamiseson chewable.

Notes from wikipedia: Vitamin C, the regular intake the absorption rate varies between 70 to 95%. Ascorbate is accumulated in the body until the plasma levels reach the renal resorption threshold, which is about 1.5 mg/dL in men and 1.3 mg/dL in women.

Storage: Biological tissues that accumulate over 100 times the level in blood plasma of vitamin C are the adrenal glands, pituitary, thymus, corpus luteum, and retina.[44] Those with 10 to 50 times the concentration present in blood plasma include the brain, spleen, lung,testicle, lymph nodes, liver, thyroid, small intestinal mucosa, leukocytes, pancreas, kidney and salivary glands.

Diabetes Care says: High doses of supplementary vitamin C may cause an unexpected elevation of blood sugar levels.

Indian J Med Res 126 2007 Nov : Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes related to hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress. This endothelial dysfunction may worsen insulin resistance. It may be possible that vitamin C as an antioxidant can probably reduce insulin resistance by improved endothelial function and lowering oxidative stress.

In conclusion, supplementation with 1000 mg/day of vitamin C in addition to the normal diet and treatment schedule may help in improving plasma glucose and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Re: Dr. Berstein, Vitamin C and Blood Glucose.

The electrical resistance of the test strips react with the vitamin c giving you false readings
Dr. Berstein claims that Vitamin C in excess of 250mg can cause high blood sugar and low blood sugar test strips and hemoglobin Ac1 test.

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum Answered:
Vitamin C is critical for the production of the hormone cortisol, which helps keep blood sugar stable during stress. Consequently, vitamin C decreases the symptoms of low blood sugar and associated sugar cravings.

Vitamin C offers other benefits as well. Too little vitamin C in the bloodstream has been found to correlate with increased body fat and waist measurements. Research conducted at Arizona State University and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2005 showed that the amount of vitamin C in the bloodstream is directly related to fat oxidation, the body’s ability to use fat as a fuel source, both during exercise and at rest. Vitamin C can also boost immune function. Recommended daily dose: 300 to 1,000 mg.

Wipi L-Ascorbate is a weak sugar acid structurally related to glucose that naturally occurs attached either to ahydrogen ion, forming ascorbic acid, or to a metal ion, forming a mineral ascorbate.


Vitamin C status and fatigue in obese adults consuming a reduced-calorie diet Christy L Alexon1, Carol S Johnston1, Bonnie Beezhold1 and Pamela D Swan states:

These data suggest that vitamin C status affects perceptions of fatigue both at rest and during sub-maximal exercise in obese adults consuming calorie-restricted diets. Hence, vitamin C status may impact success of weight loss regimens.
or (same authors, possible same study)
Nutrition researchers from Arizona State University report that the amount of vitamin C in the blood stream is directly related to fat oxidation, the body's ability to use fat as a fuel source, during both exercise and at rest.

So there we have it, it effects either the testing or BG, but I feel better with the vit C, and am less hungry.