Vitamin C, the Immune System, and Lupus

Vitamin C has many vital functions in the body, but how does it effect Lupus Warriors? How much vitamin C should one take?

There is an ongoing debate whether or not vitamin c is a prophylaxis against the flu and the common cold. This essential nutrient, though, is vital in essential bodily functions as well as regeneration.

Vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid, is a nutrient that plays many important roles in the proper function and maintenance of your body. Vitamin C prevents disorders such as scurvy, but beyond that it is essential in the building and repair of the body’s connective tissues. Connective tissues, specifically collagen, are proteins that help to form skin, ligaments, cartilage, bones, and teeth, as well as helping to maintain blood vessels and organs.

The possible benefits of adequate vitamin C intake range from a reduced duration of the common cold to prevention of cardiovascular disease to possible cancer prevention. Many dermatologists also instruct their patients to apply topical vitamin C onto their skin to prevent free radical damage.

Vitamin C and the Immune System

For Lupus Warriors, taking care of the immune system is crucial. As mentioned earlier, a lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a serious immune deficiency.

Several cells of the immune system accumulate vitamin C and need the vitamin to perform their task, especially phagocytes and t-cells. Therefore, vitamin c is not a preventive remedy, but rather a necessary one to ensure the immune system’s proper function. In the end, the immune system is what protects the body against illnesses.

Repairing Tissues

Topical vitamin C is the new essential skincare ingredient to keeping skin looking young and refreshed. This is because vitamin c has immense capabilities of building and rebuilding the body’s tissues, like how it encourages the growth of collagen. Supplemental vitamin c might assist the body in repairing damaged tissue from flares.

How Much Vitamin C Should One Take?

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has created a set of reference values for specific nutrient intake levels, and that includes vitamin C. The guidelines consider average daily nutrient intake from both supplements and foods, according to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). These guidelines meet the standards for more than 97% of healthy individuals. Below are the recommended intake amounts for vitamin C:

The debate is on whether or not daily low-dose vitamin c is better for the body than a sporadic one time high-dose of vitamin c. Some studies of IV high-dose vitamin C in patients with cancer have shown improved quality of life, as well as fewer side effects.

High-Dose Vitamin C

High-dose vitamin C may be taken:

• by mouth, typically in pills or lozenges
• given by an intravenous (IV) infusion (through a vein into the bloodstream)
  • When taken by IV infusion, vitamin C can reach higher levels in the blood than when the same amount is taken orally

Some clinicians believe that high-dose vitamin c can help combat lupus flares from the onset or aid in recovery. This belief is rooted in the medical community’s knowledge of the regenerative properties of vitamin C.

Vitamin C in the News

The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health

Normal human skin contains high levels of vitamin C, which stimulates collagen synthesis and assisting in antioxidant protection against UV-induced photo-damage. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize and remove oxidants. Such as those found in environmental pollutants and after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This activity appears to be of particular importance in the epidermis, where vitamin C is concentrated in the skin. Find out more, here.

Vitamin C and Heart Health

Can vitamin C help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD)?

Researchers explored the role of vitamin C on heart health in a large number of studies and subsequent meta-analyses. These studies suggest that vitamin C can favorably affect blood pressure and endothelial function, two risk factors for CVD.

Observational studies have also noted increases in CVD risk among people with low plasma concentrations of vitamin C.

Discover more about vitamin C and heart health, here.

The Discovery of Vitamin C

“Scurvy was a common problem in the world’s navies and is estimated to have affected 2 million sailors.”

A Scottish doctor, James Lind, conducted one of the first ever clinical trials to develop the theory that citrus fruits cured scurvy. Still, at the time of the study in 1747, researchers had no concept of vitamins.

“Axel Holst and Theodor Frölich produced scurvy in the guinea pig, which like humans requires vitamin C in the diet. In 1928, Albert Szent-Györgyi isolated a substance from adrenal glands that he called ‘hexuronic acid’. Four years later, Charles Glen King isolated vitamin C in his laboratory and concluded that it was the same as ‘hexuronic acid’.” Learn more here.

A Lupus Warriors Takeaway

To ensure you are getting enough vitamin C, look at your diet. Be sure to eat fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and dark green vegetables.

Generally speaking, even high doses of vitamin C are easily tolerated, but with any increased amount be sure to watch for adverse reactions and speak with your lupus treatment team about adding anything to your treatment plan.

Updated on September 14, 2020.