Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Patrick Holford [info] 20 October 2005 16:47 Kebbell, Jo Can Vitamin C Kill Bird Flu? Can Vitamin C Kill Bird Flu? In the July issue of my newsletter I interviewed Dr Thomas Levy, who has provided the definitive proof in his book ' Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases and Toxins: Curing the Incurable'.[click here to read the Levy interview] He is one of the world's experts in effects of vitamin C on viruses. Here's what he says " Regarding the bird flu, I have not found any virus for which vitamin C does not exert a virucidal effect, as long as enough vitamin C reaches the virus, such as in any acute infection. I don't know about Tamiflu, but the vitamin C is virtually devoid of negative side effects. " Although there no studies yet published specifically treating Asian bird flu with vitamin C, immune expert Dr Robert Cathcart, who has treated thousands of cases of life threatening infectious diseases with high dose vitamin C says " Treatment of the bird flu with massive doses of ascorbate would be the same as any other flu except that the severity of the disease indicates that it may take unusually massive doses of ascorbic acid orally or even intravenous sodium ascorbate. I have not seen any flu yet that was not cured or markedly ameliorated by massive doses of vitamin C. " Antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, work by inhibiting something called neuraminidase, produced by viruses and essential for their ability to replicate. So too does vitamin C but this is only one of more than ten ways that vitamin C knocks out viruses, both by inhibiting the virus itself, and by strengthening the body's own immune response, for example by improving the number of function of immune cells (eg macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils), upping interferon and nitric oxide and making more antibodies which target viruses. Vitamin C also has direct antiviral effects and has been shown to inhibit viral replication in laboratory studies, such as HIV-infected immune cells. In the case of HIV viral infection was inhibited by 99% within four days, according to research published by the National Academy of Sciences. (It is really a tragedy that this research hasn't been followed up with a large scale human trials, but the sad truth is that, even though vitamin C has been shown to outperform AZT in lab studies , there's no money in it. So it appears that there is sufficient biological plausibility for its role against the flu, but since we don't have the controlled human trials, it's not proven. It's a tragedy that these studies aren't done for life-threatening diseases such as HIV and bird flu, but the sad truth is there's no money in it because vitamin C is cheap to make and not patentable - unlike drugs such as Tamiflu. Vitamin C, in high doses, has been well proven to be non-toxic in both adults and children over many years. The same cannot be said for this new generation of antiviral drugs. However, we do know that vitamin C reduces the severitiy of colds and flu. Over 20 controlled trials using at least 1 gram a day against the common cold have been published, showing that the duration is typically decreased by about 25% and symptoms are much less severe. You are going to need much more than this if you contract any kind of flu. One recent human trial found that students who took hourly doses of 1,000 mg of vitamin C for the first 6 hours and then 3 times daily had a decrease in symptoms of 85% compared to students in the control group. In the case of bird flu that might well be the difference between life and death. It's highly likely that vitamin C would be effective against bird flu if you can get the dose high enough. Dr Mark Levine, who works for the National Institutes of Health in the US, has shown that you can get plasma levels up to 200mcmol/l with 3 grams of vitamin C six times a day, at which point vitamin C becomes profoundly anti-viral. However, with intravenous infusion of 100g a day concentration goes up to 15,000mcmol/l. No virus has yet been shown to survive at that level. The ideal amount of vitamin C for any flu is up to 'bowel tolerance'. Start with 1 gram an hour. If you get diarrhoea halve this dose. If you don' t, double it. There are some forms of vitamin C, notably sodium ascorbate with riboperine, and lipospheric vitamin C that allow even more to be absorbed without reaching bowel tolerance. They are marginally better than straight ascorbic acid. Some people find ascorbic acid too acidic, in which case an ascorbate, such as sodium ascorbate, can be taken. It might be useful to have a supply at hand if an epidemic does break out. There is no harm in having 100 grams a day short-term, stopping once all symptoms are gone. If even this didn't stop the flu I'd find a doctor who could administer intravenous sodium ascorbate. The trick with any infection is not to get it in the first place by keeping your immune system strong. I take 1 gram of vitamin C twice a day. If Asian flu breaks out I'm doubling that to 4 grams - one every 6 or so hours, and taking 1 gram an hour if I get any symptoms. For more information read my book Boost Your Immune System Wishing you the best of health, Send to a Friend If you have friends or relatives who you think would be interested in this eletter please forward it to them for their information. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Yeah, I`ve read many an article by him, and he usually talks some sense, however, he usually end up by advertising something, like his own brand of vitamins/foods/suppliments/video etc. The Valley Vegan.........jo <jo.heartwork wrote: Patrick Holford [info]20 October 2005 16:59Kebbell, JoCan Vitamin C Kill Bird Flu?Can Vitamin C Kill Bird Flu?By Patrick HolfordIn the July issue of my newsletter I interviewed Dr Thomas Levy, whohas provided the definitive proof in his book ' Vitamin C, InfectiousDiseases and Toxins: Curing the Incurable'.[click here to read the Levyinterview] He is one of the world's experts in effects of vitamin C onviruses. Here's what he says "Regarding the bird flu, I have not found anyvirus for which vitamin C does not exert a virucidal effect, as long asenough vitamin C reaches the virus, such as in any acute infection. I don'tknow about Tamiflu, but the vitamin C is virtually devoid of negative sideeffects."Although there no studies yet published specifically treating Asianbird flu with vitamin C, immune expert Dr Robert Cathcart, who has treatedthousands of cases of life threatening infectious diseases with high dosevitamin C says "Treatment of the bird flu with massive doses of ascorbatewould be the same as any other flu except that the severity of the diseaseindicates that it may take unusually massive doses of ascorbic acid orallyor even intravenous sodium ascorbate. I have not seen any flu yet that wasnot cured or markedly ameliorated by massive doses of vitamin C."Antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, work by inhibiting something calledneuraminidase, produced by viruses and essential for their ability toreplicate. So too does vitamin C but this is only one of more than ten waysthat vitamin C knocks out viruses, both by inhibiting the virus itself, andby strengthening the body's own immune response, for example by improvingthe number of function of immune cells (eg macrophages, lymphocytes andneutrophils), upping interferon and nitric oxide and making more antibodieswhich target viruses. Vitamin C also has direct antiviral effects and hasbeen shown to inhibit viral replication in laboratory studies, such asHIV-infected immune cells. In the case of HIV viral infection was inhibitedby 99% within four days, according to research published by the NationalAcademy of Sciences. (It is really a tragedy that this research hasn't beenfollowed up with a large scale human trials, but the sad truth is that, eventhough vitamin C has been shown to outperform AZT in lab studies , there'sno money in it. So it appears that there is sufficient biologicalplausibility for its role against the flu, but since we don't have thecontrolled human trials, it's not proven. It's a tragedy that these studiesaren't done for life-threatening diseases such as HIV and bird flu, but thesad truth is there's no money in it because vitamin C is cheap to make andnot patentable - unlike drugs such as Tamiflu. Vitamin C, in high doses, hasbeen well proven to be non-toxic in both adults and children over manyyears. The same cannot be said for this new generation of antiviral drugs.However, we do know that vitamin C reduces the severitiy of colds andflu. Over 20 controlled trials using at least 1 gram a day against thecommon cold have been published, showing that the duration is typicallydecreased by about 25% and symptoms are much less severe. You are going toneed much more than this if you contract any kind of flu. One recent humantrial found that students who took hourly doses of 1,000 mg of vitamin C forthe first 6 hours and then 3 times daily had a decrease in symptoms of 85%compared to students in the control group. In the case of bird flu thatmight well be the difference between life and death.It's highly likely that vitamin C would be effective against bird fluif you can get the dose high enough. Dr Mark Levine, who works for theNational Institutes of Health in the US, has shown that you can get plasmalevels up to 200mcmol/l with 3 grams of vitamin C six times a day, at whichpoint vitamin C becomes profoundly anti-viral. However, with intravenousinfusion of 100g a day concentration goes up to 15,000mcmol/l. No virus hasyet been shown to survive at that level.The ideal amount of vitamin C for any flu is up to 'bowel tolerance'.Start with 1 gram an hour. If you get diarrhoea halve this dose. If you don't, double it. There are some forms of vitamin C, notably sodium ascorbatewith riboperine, and lipospheric vitamin C that allow even more to beabsorbed without reaching bowel tolerance. They are marginally better thanstraight ascorbic acid. Some people find ascorbic acid too acidic, in whichcase an ascorbate, such as sodium ascorbate, can be taken. It might beuseful to have a supply at hand if an epidemic does break out. There is noharm in having 100 grams a day short-term, stopping once all symptoms aregone. If even this didn't stop the flu I'd find a doctor who couldadminister intravenous sodium ascorbate. The trick with any infection is notto get it in the first place by keeping your immune system strong. I take 1gram of vitamin C twice a day. If Asian flu breaks out I'm doubling that to4 grams - one every 6 or so hours, and taking 1 gram an hour if I get anysymptoms.For more information read my book Boost Your Immune SystemWishing you the best of health,Send to a FriendIf you have friends or relatives who you think would be interested inthis eletter please forward it to them for their information.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 He does, but I think he is one of the most knowledgeable nutritionists around - and if I remember correctly he was quoting someone elses research on this article. Jo , peter hurd <swpgh01@t...> wrote: > > Yeah, I`ve read many an article by him, and he usually talks some sense, however, he usually end up by advertising something, like his own brand of vitamins/foods/suppliments/video etc. > > > The Valley Vegan......... > > jo <jo.heartwork@g...> wrote: > > Patrick Holford [info@h...] > 20 October 2005 16:59 > Kebbell, Jo > Can Vitamin C Kill Bird Flu? Can Vitamin C Kill Bird Flu? > > > By Patrick Holford > > > In the July issue of my newsletter I interviewed Dr Thomas Levy, who > has provided the definitive proof in his book ' Vitamin C, Infectious > Diseases and Toxins: Curing the Incurable'.[click here to read the Levy > interview] He is one of the world's experts in effects of vitamin C on > viruses. Here's what he says " Regarding the bird flu, I have not found any > virus for which vitamin C does not exert a virucidal effect, as long as > enough vitamin C reaches the virus, such as in any acute infection. I don't > know about Tamiflu, but the vitamin C is virtually devoid of negative side > effects. " > > Although there no studies yet published specifically treating Asian > bird flu with vitamin C, immune expert Dr Robert Cathcart, who has treated > thousands of cases of life threatening infectious diseases with high dose > vitamin C says " Treatment of the bird flu with massive doses of ascorbate > would be the same as any other flu except that the severity of the disease > indicates that it may take unusually massive doses of ascorbic acid orally > or even intravenous sodium ascorbate. I have not seen any flu yet that was > not cured or markedly ameliorated by massive doses of vitamin C. " > > Antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, work by inhibiting something called > neuraminidase, produced by viruses and essential for their ability to > replicate. So too does vitamin C but this is only one of more than ten ways > that vitamin C knocks out viruses, both by inhibiting the virus itself, and > by strengthening the body's own immune response, for example by improving > the number of function of immune cells (eg macrophages, lymphocytes and > neutrophils), upping interferon and nitric oxide and making more antibodies > which target viruses. Vitamin C also has direct antiviral effects and has > been shown to inhibit viral replication in laboratory studies, such as > HIV-infected immune cells. In the case of HIV viral infection was inhibited > by 99% within four days, according to research published by the National > Academy of Sciences. (It is really a tragedy that this research hasn't been > followed up with a large scale human trials, but the sad truth is that, even > though vitamin C has been shown to outperform AZT in lab studies , there's > no money in it. So it appears that there is sufficient biological > plausibility for its role against the flu, but since we don't have the > controlled human trials, it's not proven. It's a tragedy that these studies > aren't done for life-threatening diseases such as HIV and bird flu, but the > sad truth is there's no money in it because vitamin C is cheap to make and > not patentable - unlike drugs such as Tamiflu. Vitamin C, in high doses, has > been well proven to be non-toxic in both adults and children over many > years. The same cannot be said for this new generation of antiviral drugs. > > However, we do know that vitamin C reduces the severitiy of colds and > flu. Over 20 controlled trials using at least 1 gram a day against the > common cold have been published, showing that the duration is typically > decreased by about 25% and symptoms are much less severe. You are going to > need much more than this if you contract any kind of flu. One recent human > trial found that students who took hourly doses of 1,000 mg of vitamin C for > the first 6 hours and then 3 times daily had a decrease in symptoms of 85% > compared to students in the control group. In the case of bird flu that > might well be the difference between life and death. > > It's highly likely that vitamin C would be effective against bird flu > if you can get the dose high enough. Dr Mark Levine, who works for the > National Institutes of Health in the US, has shown that you can get plasma > levels up to 200mcmol/l with 3 grams of vitamin C six times a day, at which > point vitamin C becomes profoundly anti-viral. However, with intravenous > infusion of 100g a day concentration goes up to 15,000mcmol/l. No virus has > yet been shown to survive at that level. > > The ideal amount of vitamin C for any flu is up to 'bowel tolerance'. > Start with 1 gram an hour. If you get diarrhoea halve this dose. If you don' > t, double it. There are some forms of vitamin C, notably sodium ascorbate > with riboperine, and lipospheric vitamin C that allow even more to be > absorbed without reaching bowel tolerance. They are marginally better than > straight ascorbic acid. Some people find ascorbic acid too acidic, in which > case an ascorbate, such as sodium ascorbate, can be taken. It might be > useful to have a supply at hand if an epidemic does break out. There is no > harm in having 100 grams a day short-term, stopping once all symptoms are > gone. If even this didn't stop the flu I'd find a doctor who could > administer intravenous sodium ascorbate. The trick with any infection is not > to get it in the first place by keeping your immune system strong. I take 1 > gram of vitamin C twice a day. If Asian flu breaks out I'm doubling that to > 4 grams - one every 6 or so hours, and taking 1 gram an hour if I get any > symptoms. For more information read my book Boost Your Immune System > > Wishing you the best of health, > > > > > > Send to a Friend > If you have friends or relatives who you think would be interested in > this eletter please forward it to them for their information. > > > > > > > > > > To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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