Known Negative Drug-Vit C Interactions?

[twowheelfree]

Anybody know of any negative consequences of taking C along with a drug?

[majkinetor]

The most known interaction is with aspirin (easily prevented by not taking them together). Synergic effect may cause an increased bleeding in the digestive tract. Aspirin is one of the drugs that is for instance regularly prescribed to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clot formation. This is especially important since Pauling Therapy may be used in parallel with allophatic therapy for CVD witch might include Aspirin.

Vitamin C may also reverse anticoagulant activity of warfarin.

[pamojja]

[majkinetor]

Almost all of above is not something you should be concerned with.
Also, at least 50% is not about drug-vit C interaction altho that dichotomy (supplement-drug) is artificial - all are chemicals.

About hypothetical deficiencies of other minerals (copper, selenium), although some of that might happen in vivo, I doubt its effect could be big and its certainly easily preventable by taking 1 good multi-mineral-vitamin tablet daily or solo complexes or good diet (for instance Brazil Nut). Keep in mind that there might be chain reaction too. For instance Mg deficiency might be followed by number of symptoms which may drain or over accumulate other nutrients. So this is not big concern IMO and is (probably) totally preventable with 99.9% of people.

Oxalat-Urolithiasis is not true - this is technical name for kidney stones and Vit. C actually prevents them for most people. There seems to be a small subset of population with history of calcium kidney stones that might be at risk but even those people could tolerate higher doses (up to 4g AFAIK). Also, adding Mg should prevent stone formation as Mg has higher affinity to oxalates and will bind before Ca does.

G6ODG-insufficiency concern is important only for IV use. This deficiency is very rare.
Kidney-insufficiency might be concern but some people with history of kidney disease (like Pauling) didn't have a problem taking between 10-30g per day.

B12 caution is not true. This was based on 1 flawed experiment.

Things from animal trials could not be just like that concluded for humans.

My Vit C supplementation regime includes Mg-Citrate (~600mg), Selenium (~100-200mcg), D3 (5000 IU) and K2 (MQ7 or MQ4 variant, 25-100mcg) and 1 multi-mineral-vitamin with higher then usual B complex vitamins (~50mg of most of B vitamins) and good diet including around 1g/kg of protein.
Absorption of Mg depends on D3 and those 2 will also reduce blood pressure which might be concern if you use Sodium Ascorbate, Selenium boosts Glutathion which boosts C and vice-versa, B6 is rate limiting factor in Vitamin C boosted collagen production, L-Lysine & L-Prolyne from protein improve collagen quality. K2 is important for correct Ca metabolism which is boosted by D3 and can not finish correctly without it and furthermore prevents eventual D3 toxicity.

[majkinetor]

[Dolev]

[majkinetor]

You shouldn't mega doze pizzas. It produces carbohydrate and insulin surge

[ofonorow]

The most known interaction is with aspirin (easily prevented by not taking them together). Synergic effect may cause an increased bleeding in the digestive tract. Aspirin is one of the drugs that is for instance regularly prescribed to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and blood clot formation. This is especially important since Pauling Therapy may be used in parallel with allophatic therapy for CVD witch might include Aspirin.

Vitamin C may also reverse anticoagulant activity of warfarin.

I know that Irwin Stone and others cited research to the contrary, that because of the risk of bleeding, all doctors should recommend vitamin C be taken with aspirin as a matter of course. In other words, that it was dangerous to take aspirin alone (without vitamin C.) If that is what you meant, I just want to make it clear. The reference is somewhere in the Healing Factor http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/stone/

As far as the idea that vitamin C can counteract the anticoagulant activity of rat poison (warfarin) I would appreciate a reference.

In my mind, the most significant interaction between vitamin C and a drug is with the (from memory) so-called P450 enzyme system (the one grapefruit interferes with). This enzyme system is the major tool the body uses to detoxify (remove toxins.) Vitamin C is important for this enzyme system to function, and thus important for the quick removal of drugs. (Reference Vitamin C: Its Chemistry and Biochemistry, Davies, Austion,Partridge) So, unless the drug (poison) is required to stay in the body longer, vitamin C probably helps rid the body of it.

Vitamin C, Its Chemistry and Biochemistry, Page 89.

"A significant role is played by oxidizing enzymes associated with the microsomal fraction, notably a cytochrome called P450 which is a mixed function oxidase (MFO). This very broad-specificity enzyme, which helps dispose of ethanol, benzene, tetracholromethane, and polychlroinated biphenyls (PCBs) to name but four notorious toxins, may depend for its action on the presence of vitamin C since...."

So the answer to the question is that although we cannot prove a negative, taking vitamin C along with a drug is generally favorable, with few or no known contraindications.

[twowheelfree]

Many, many thanks for all your replies and info. All useful. After reading the response, in retrospect, I realize, I would have been more accurate to ask about "contra-indications" to taking Vit C. That, too, was answered without my directly asking!!

[majkinetor]

As far as the idea that vitamin C can counteract the anticoagulant activity of rat poison (warfarin) I would appreciate a reference.

Walfarin and Related Oral Vitamin K Antagonist Antikoogulants
From "Herb, Nutrient, and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies by Mitchell Bebel Stargrove ND". Data from some, but not all, animal experiments and rare, unqualified case reports indicates that vitamin C, in high doses, might decrease functional level and therapeutic acdtivity of warfarin, but the cumulative body of evidence fails to support a well-founded, consistent, and generalizable conclusion.
Findings from the four controlled trials involving large number of subjects indicate a lack of clinically significant interaction between warfarin and ascorbic acid, event at doses as high as 10g vitamin C per day.

Read...

I know that Irwin Stone and others cited research to the contrary, that because of the risk of bleeding, all doctors should recommend vitamin C be taken with aspirin as a matter of course.

Nutrition and Environmental Health: The vitamins
Analysis of the urine following aspirin administration showed an increased output of ascorbic acid..... Subsequent in vivo studies with humans revealed that administration of an acute loading dose of 600mg aspirin prevented the uptake of ascorbic acid into leucocytes even at doses of 500 to 2000mg (Loch et al., 1974; Wilson, 1975).

Drug-induced nutritional deficiencies
In patients with reumathoid arthritis aspirin caused ascorbic acid depletion of tissues

The Healing Factor
Even an aspirin should be accompanied by a large does of ascorbic acid to heighten its analgesic effect and lessen its toxic action on the body.

So the answer to the question is that although we cannot prove a negative, taking vitamin C along with a drug is generally favorable, with few or no known contraindications.

Yes, definitely.

[ofonorow]

I admit I am still a little confused as your reference seem to make my point?

Findings from the four controlled trials involving large number of subjects indicate a lack of clinically significant interaction between warfarin and ascorbic acid, event at doses as high as 10g vitamin C per day.

[majkinetor]

[majkinetor]

[majkinetor]

This is interesting:

Physicians are advised to recommend that individuals increase their consumption of vitamin C rich foods as a means of reducing risk of H. pylori infection and as a possible means of mitigating the effects of infection in those with gastric disease who test positive tor H. priori. However, patients should be further advised to eliminate high-dose vitamin (intake while being treated with LAM triple therapy, to avoid any potential interference with the efficacy of the medication. It is known that low gastric pH is protective of H. pylori, which is why proton pump inhibitors to achieve neutral gastric pH are combined with antibiotics. From this preliminary research, prudent would suggest thai ascorbic acid (and perhaps other organic acids capable of lowering intragastric pH) should be avoided during and H. pylori therapy. Related research indicates that coadministration of probiotic flora to restore gut ecology can enhance clinical outcomes.
---
LAM ( lansoprazole , amoxycillin and metronidazole ) are reported above. However, research with amoxicillin, metronidazole, bismuth and omeprazole here (which was out after the book was written) concludes that Vitamin C is beneficial as addition to the treatment.

[pamojja]

What an amazing and informed elaboration! Would be vitamin-wiki ready - too bad this forum's isn't configured properly, for not loosing all valuable posts over time again..

Great work you put into this, very much appreciated!

Herb, nutrient, and drug interactions: clinical implications and therapeutic ...