Does vitamin C cause DNA damage?
Several years ago, British researchers reported that supplemental vitamin C led to breaks in one type of DNA, the molecule that forms genes. After a big brouhaha, the researchers reported (with much less fanfare) that vitamin C prevented a much more serious type of break in DNA. The scientists were impressed with vitamin C’s powerful ability to inhibit DNA damage, and noted that it had an “overall profound protective effect.” Q: Does vitamin C increase the risk of cardiovascular disease? A: One recent unpublished study found an association (not a cause and effect) between supplemental vitamin C and increased thickness of the carotid artery, a sign of cardiovascular disease. Balz Frie, Ph.D., director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, Corvallis, points out that more than 50 other studies clearly show vitamin C helps lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Q: Does too much vitamin C cause diarrhea? A: Robert Cathcart III, M.D., of Los Altos, Calif., recommends
