[Vitamin C Episode 3] Is Vitamin C Megadose Effective? | Dr. Esther Lyuh

Does vitamin C have a megadose effect?

The value of high doses of vitamin C

I think it is worth using high-dose therapy of vitamin C that exceeds the upper limit of 2,000 mg set by the National Academy of Medicine. For example, if I have a very important exam or assignment, but I am not sick, but my condition is messed up due to overwork or stress, high-dose vitamin C therapy is a great alternative.  You can take vitamin C by mouth, but your doctor may give you an IV. This is because a large amount can be injected all at once and the effect can be obtained quickly. For example, if you need 10g of vitamin C, you have to eat as many as 200 small tangerines. If you take it in supplement form, you should take 20 pills of 500 mg. It's not too cumbersome.

But I'm against taking it every day..

I am against taking high doses of vitamin C daily. Because the actual profit is small. But sometimes it's worth doing good. In fact, I am experiencing the effect myself, and so are the patients I have treated.  Medical rigorists may find this objectionable. It is said that it is based on evidence, and it is argued that it should be said as a thesis. But how can you quantify everything you feel in your body? Although it is emphasized again and again, modern medicine needs to acknowledge the realm of function. In the realm of food, consumers have the right to choose vitamin C for their own health, as long as it is medically plausible, has few side effects, and is inexpensive.

The treatment area is still difficult

However, I oppose vitamin C high-dose therapy entering the treatment area of ​​diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. This is because more medical evidence is needed to show that it is more effective and has fewer side effects than conventional treatments to spread as a treatment.  Of course, this does not mean that patients should not receive vitamin C treatment. It is to be cautious, but if the patient and the attending physician agree, there is no reason not to receive it. I too have given high doses of vitamin C intravenously to patients struggling with undiagnosed conditions for the past 20 years. It was administered to patients who could not eat properly due to chemotherapy, and to patients who could no longer receive any treatment at the hospital due to terminal cancer. In either case, my prescription experience has nothing to do with the survival rate, but at least it helped me maintain good condition and quality of life. If the patient is a terminal cancer patient, I think this prescription is meaningful even if it is only for one day.

Esther Yeo, Doctor of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University