High-Dose Vitamin C for Prevention and Healing: A Clinical Miracle Compared to Modern Drugs

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) viewed with polarized light microscopy

I greatly value health and wrote this to share what I’ve learned. All content is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is much more than a micronutrient needed in minute quantities. Humans are among the few known species unable to internally synthesize ascorbic acid because of a mutation in the gene encoding for a required liver enzyme. Many animals make ascorbic acid in significant amounts to maintain health. For example, a 150-lb (68-kg) goat produces an estimated 13 g/day ascorbic acid when healthy and up to 100 g/day during illness. Farmers have found that feeding their sick animals high doses of ascorbic acid powder can greatly assist in recovery.

Benefit

Oxidative stress from free radicals contributes to aging and development of disease. Natural compounds with antioxidant properties can protect against this. Vitamin C is an effective water-soluble antioxidant predominant in blood, intracellular fluids, and tissues. Vitamin C is also used to recycle other antioxidants such as glutathione and vitamin E.

Vitamin C is an important enzyme cofactor for neurotransmitters, hormones, and collagen — one of the main structural components of blood vessels, bone, cartilage, eye lens, heart valves, ligaments, muscles, skin, and tendons.

Studies and physician reports referenced in publications below indicate that high-dose vitamin C can be beneficial for:

• allergy, asthma (antihistamine)
• attention deficit disorder, autism
• blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• blood sugar regulation, obesity, type 2 diabetes, weight loss
• burn, skin condition, wound healing
• collagen production, dental health
• eye condition including cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration
• gout
• heat stroke, sunburn
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• infection (bacterial, fungal, parasitic, viral)
• inflammation, common autoimmune diseases (e.g. alopecia areata, autoimmune vasculitis, celiac disease, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, vitiligo)
• iron deficiency and absorption of iron from plant sources
• mental health, dementia
• migraine headache
• pregnancy and lactation
• prevention of bone loss
• reduced effects of toxin and radiation
• reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke
• up to 50% lower mortality from all causes

Toxin and Radiation

In the book “Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, and Toxins” (4th ed., p. 168. MedFox 2011), Dr. Thomas E. Levy remarks, “Vitamin C has demonstrated the ability to neutralize a wide variety of toxic substances, many of which are completely unrelated chemically.” High-dose vitamin C has been shown to reduce effects of air pollution, alcohol and food poisoning, chemical exposure, drug toxicity and withdrawal, pesticides, radiation, toxic heavy metals, and venom.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal which can accumulate in the body. Elevated lead levels are common and associated with significantly increased risk of disease and mortality. High-dose oral vitamin C and crushed raw garlic can assist the body in reducing lead levels.

Studies in Japan found that high-dose (oral and IV) vitamin C helped protect Fukushima nuclear plant workers exposed to radiation during the cleanup.

Infection

Vitamin C when taken in frequent high oral doses may reduce cold and flu symptoms. For example, “Orthomolecular Medicine for Everyone: Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians” (Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD., Andrew W. Saul, PhD. 1st ed., p. 85. Basic Health 2008) mentions a study where 252 people took 3 g/day vitamin C when healthy and 1 g/hour for six hours at onset of symptoms, which decreased by 85% compared to the control group of 463 people.

Dr. Suzanne Humphries wrote a guide about high-dose oral vitamin C for infants and children with whooping cough. She comments, “I’ve received hundreds of letters of appreciation telling me how the protocol worked for parents using it on their own.”

Studies have shown IV vitamin C to lower mortality for hospitalized patients with life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or tetanus. The treatment has also been used throughout the world to significantly reduce mortality from viral infection, such as in China where 50,000 kg of vitamin C was sent to the epicenter of an epidemic in Wuhan to assist in recovery.

I came across numerous reports on the use of high-dose vitamin C during remarkable healing from infection. In the book “Primal Panacea” (1st ed., p. 15. MedFox 2011), Dr. Thomas E. Levy notes, “After over 15 years of research and personal observation, I can categorically say that high-dose vitamin C is a clinical miracle when compared to all of our modern drugs. Furthermore, volumes of studies exist that say it works.”

Dr. Levy describes how physicians recommended removing life support from a swine flu patient who had been comatose for the prior month. With assistance of family, the patient then began receiving high-dose IV vitamin C and fully recovered. The book also recounts the story of a patient who was hospitalized for several weeks with bone infection of the hand, that became so severe that physicians recommended amputation to save his life. Instead the patient then began high-dose (oral and IV) vitamin C. His hand quickly healed, with the infection and swelling gone after nine days.

The book “Vitamin C: The Real Story” (Steve Hickey, PhD., Andrew W. Saul, PhD. 1st ed., p. 117. Basic Health 2015) relates how a man successfully used up to 250 g/day oral vitamin C when he began to develop Legionnaires’ disease as confirmed by lab testing. He had recently stayed at a hotel where three other people caught the same disease and died within a few days at different hospitals.

Diabetes

Two studies from Deakin University in Australia found that oral vitamin C supplementation improved insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. They took 500 mg ascorbic acid twice daily for four months. Reported benefits include a 36% drop in blood sugar spike after meals, nearly three hours per day less hyperglycaemia, and 50% reduction in hypertension. Associate Professor Glenn Wadley notes, “Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties can help counteract the high levels of free radicals found in people with diabetes, and it’s encouraging to see this benefits a number of the disease’s common comorbidities, such as high blood pressure.”

Cancer

Steve Hickey and other researchers have described evidence that high-dose (oral and IV) vitamin C can generate hydrogen peroxide inside cancer cells to destroy them, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Taking frequent high oral doses of both ascorbic acid powder and liposomal vitamin C provides much higher blood levels against cancer, and can be even more effective when combined with synergistic redox agents such as supplemental alpha-lipoic acid, selenium, and vitamin K3.

An Interview with Abram Hoffer (Andrew W. Saul, PhD. J Orthomol Med 2009;24(3):1–8) mentions that Dr. Abram Hoffer used high-dose oral vitamin C with 1600+ cancer patients. At least 40% reached 10 year cure rates. In an article and book “Orthomolecular Treatment of Chronic Disease: 65 Experts on Therapeutic and Preventive Nutrition” (Andrew W. Saul, PhD. 1st ed., p. 238. Basic Health 2014), Dr. Hoffer describes an elderly patient with pancreatic cancer that other physicians considered terminal and untreatable. The patient took 40 g/day oral vitamin C, made a full recovery within six months, and lived another 22 years.

Dr. Hugh Riordan founded the Riordan Clinic, which specializes in functional and integrative medicine. He was the first to demonstrate that high-dose IV vitamin C is therapeutic for cancer patients.

Dr. Raymond CF Yuen in Singapore has researched the clinical application of high-dose IV vitamin C (HDIVC) for cancer immunotherapy. In a 2021 article he notes, “In the ten years that I have been administering HDIVC for cancer patients, I have always found it effective in improving patients’ quality of life and survival. I have seen stage 4 cancer patients who were given a poor prognosis survive longer than their oncologists’ prediction or expectation.”

Dr. Joseph Breslin in New Mexico successfully treated cancer patients with 120–180 g/day IV vitamin C in a continuous drip from a chemotherapy pump and catheter.

Physicians have used high-concentration vitamin C applied topically for various skin conditions, including the removal of basal cell carcinoma.

Formulation

Ascorbic acid is the type of vitamin C that animals internally synthesize, with two extra electrons per molecule to donate to oxidized free radicals and neutralize their harmful effects in the body. Ascorbic acid powder can be economical for high oral dosage, with no added fillers found in tablets. The powder readily dissolves in water and use of a straw can keep it off teeth. A vitamin C solution is best consumed before it eventually turns yellow-brown due to oxidation from exposure to air, heat, or light. Refridgeration will slow that process.

Studies found that small amounts of plant pigments (flavonoids) in vitamin C products marketed as “natural” are not significant and not more effective than pure ascorbic acid. Studies found that slow timed-release capsules are not more efficient in increasing vitamin C levels, compared to other oral forms.

Mineral ascorbates are another type of vitamin C. Calcium ascorbate (Ester-C) contains 10% calcium, and sodium ascorbate contains 13% sodium. Excessive amounts of these minerals may not be appropriate when taken orally in high dosage. Mineral ascorbates are less potent as an antioxidant with only one extra electron per molecule to donate.

Ascorbyl palmitate contains 42.5% vitamin C and is not more bioavailable than pure ascorbic acid. When ascorbyl palmitate is taken orally, the small intestine releases the ascorbic acid molecule that is bound to the ester.

Most forms of oral vitamin C require active transport in the bowel for absorption. Liposomal vitamin C is a less common, more expensive form absorbed by a different mechanism in gut cells. A liposome has a spherical phospholipid bilayer, with an internal cavity capable of carrying liquid vitamin C such as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate. Absorption can be up to 90% of a high oral dose, depending on how the liposome encapsulation is formulated.

In two 2018 interview articles, Dr. Thomas E. Levy indicates that oral use of liposomal vitamin C during viral infection can quickly load vitamin C into immune cells in the lymphatics of the gut. He personally notes that when taking liposomal vitamin C, “I ended up overcoming a severe cold/flu more quickly than I ever had before, even when I had access to multiple 50- to 100-gram infusions of vitamin C intravenously.” After receiving similar feedback from patients and healthcare practitioners, he became a consultant to LivOn Labs. He mentions that many other brands advertising liposomes do not contain such.

Dosage

The U.S. National Academy of Medicine (previously Institute of Medicine) published a Reference Daily Intake (previously RDA) of 90 mg/day vitamin C for adults to prevent scurvy, a life-threatening illness that quickly results from severe deficiency. This dosage is not intended for prevention of chronic diseases. Based on case reports, they published a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 2 g/day vitamin C for which almost no adults will experience loose stools. However, much higher dosages are suggested by physicians and researchers experienced with the use of high-dose vitamin C for health and healing.

In the early 1940s, medical pioneer Dr. Frederick R. Klenner began reporting on successful therapeutic use of high-dose (oral, intramuscular, intravenous, and topical) vitamin C for various conditions including allergy, arthritis, burns, corneal ulcer, glaucoma, heat stroke, high cholesterol, infections, mental illness, multiple sclerosis, post-surgery, pregnancy, toxins, and type 2 diabetes. During a 1948 epidemic, all 60 of his polio patients had no residual damage from the acute viral disease known to produce permanent deformities.

In a report Dr. Klenner remarks, “I have never seen a patient that Vitamin C would not benefit.” He suggests these oral dosages of ascorbic acid in divided doses when healthy: (1) infants begin with 50 mg/day and gradually increase to 1 g/day by age one; (2) children under age ten at least 1 g/day for each year of life; and (3) adults at least 10 g/day. He mentions personally taking 10–20 g/day vitamin C when healthy.

Beginning in 1969, Dr. Robert F. Cathcart III used high-dose vitamin C to help over 30,000 patients throughout his career. He found ascorbic acid to be the most effective type of oral vitamin C. In a 26-minute presentation on various therapeutic uses, he mentions personally taking 16 g/day ascorbic acid to eliminate his chronic allergies and greatly reduce his frequent colds.

Dr. Cathcart notes that at least 80% of healthy adults can tolerate 10–15 g/day ascorbic acid powder dissolved in water in 4–6 divided oral doses. In a report he explains, “Bowel tolerance doses are the amounts of ascorbic acid tolerated orally that almost, but not quite, cause diarrhea.” In another report he details how bowel tolerance can significantly increase depending on severity of illness, allowing oral dosages of 15 to 200+ g/day without diarrhea. To be effective in recovery, dosage needs to be near bowel tolerance and taken frequently until feeling completely well.

In an interview Dr. Cathcart suggests adult oral dosages for acute illness, starting with 2–6 g ascorbic acid every 15 minutes, with amount increased until diarrhea, then continued at a slightly reduced amount that does not cause diarrhea. As symptoms decrease, so can bowel tolerance with dosage reduced as needed. Reducing carbohydrate intake can also improve absorption of vitamin C during illness, along with drinking plenty of water.

For healthy adults, the half-life of high-dose oral vitamin C in the bloodstream is estimated to be 30–120 minutes. Use of divided doses spread throughout the day allows a much higher percentage to be absorbed.

In “Curing the Incurable” (4th ed., p. 331. MedFox 2011), Dr. Thomas E. Levy suggests 6–12 g/day oral vitamin C in 3–4 divided doses for healthy adults, with optimal dosages usually closer to 12 g than 6 g.

In “How To Live Longer and Feel Better” (1st ed., p. 8. Avon 1986), renowned scientist Linus Pauling suggests 6–18 g/day oral vitamin C for healthy adults. He researched vitamin C for 25 years, and in later interviews mentions personally taking 18 g/day ascorbic acid when healthy.

In “Vitamin C: The Real Story” (Steve Hickey, PhD., Andrew W. Saul, PhD. 1st ed., p. 62. Basic Health 2015), the authors suggest at least 2–3 g/day oral vitamin C in divided doses for healthy adults, with optimal dosages likely much higher at 50–90% of bowel tolerance. They suggest occasional retesting since it may change with time. In a 2009 interview Andrew W. Saul mentions personally taking 18 g/day ascorbic acid, and in a 2018 interview Steve Hickey mentions personally taking 9 g/day ascorbic acid when healthy.

Safety

In this section the term vitamin C refers to ascorbic acid, the type that animals internally synthesize. Vitamin C is a nontoxic, water-soluble substance that does not accumulate in the body. Since the 1940s physicians have safely used high-dose oral vitamin C to treat patients. Potential side effects are temporary gastrointestinal disturbances which quickly subside when dosage is reduced.

There is no compelling, consistent data that indicate any serious adverse effects from high-dose oral vitamin C. No clinical trials have ever shown vitamin C to increase any risk factors in healthy people.

Excerpt from Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD. Schizophrenia Is Chronic Encephalitis. Orthomolecular Medicine News Service 2023.

Vitamin C is the safest of all known nutrient supplements. In fact, there has never been established any dose of vitamin C above which toxicity will reliably ensue. This is consistent with the fact that vitamin C is the molecule on which the physiology of all cells runs, and the healthy function of the body relies on having large amounts of it both inside the cells as well as outside of them. Arguably, vitamin C is the safest consumable agent in existence. Rare individuals can experience minimal side effects, but this should not be confused with any degree of cell-damaging toxicity. By contrast, too much water intake is toxic and can even result in death.

Physicians and researchers experienced with the use of high-dose vitamin C confirm that it does not cause B12 deficiency, birth defect, cataract, DNA damage, infertility, kidney stone, low blood sugar, or miscarriage. The U.S. National Academy of Medicine (previously Institute of Medicine) reports “the in vivo data do not clearly show a causal relationship between excess vitamin C intake” and allergic response, excess iron absorption, kidney stone formation, pro-oxidant effects, reduced vitamin B12 and copper levels, systemic conditioning or rebound scurvy.

Observational studies are highly variable in quality of evidence provided, potential bias, and errors. Assuming a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables may be incorrect based on an observed association between them — correlation does not imply causation. For example, people with a medical condition may be found to more frequently take a nutritional supplement to improve their health, and that does not imply that the supplement caused the medical condition.

The article Cataracts and Vitamins: The Real Story (Orthomolecular.org 2013) addresses an observational study that found an association between cataract and oral vitamin C, with the incorrect implication that the vitamin C caused the cataract. It is not scientifically plausible. The study contradicts many other studies that have shown long-term benefit (e.g. 80% reduction in cataract) or short-term no effect.

The article What Really Causes Kidney Stones (And Why Vitamin C Does Not) (Orthomolecular.org 2013) addresses an observational study that found an association between kidney stone and oral vitamin C, with the incorrect implication that the vitamin C caused the kidney stone. Professor Emanuel Cheraskin states, “Vitamin C in the urine tends to bind calcium and decrease its free form. This means less chance of calcium’s separating out as calcium oxalate (stones).” Important factors in development of kidney stone are dehydration and high dietary intake of oxalate sources such as spinach.

The article Kidney stones caused by vitamin C? (PatrickHolford.com 2013) describes a study at the Kidney Stone Research Laboratory at University of Cape Town. Unlike other erroneous studies, for this study they used collection containers with a preservative to keep urine from changing while being stored before testing. Ten subjects took 4 g/day oral vitamin C for five days and laboratory urinalysis found no increased risk factors. A world expert in this field of research, Professor Allen Rodgers indicated that kidney stone could not be caused by use of vitamin C.

A 1994 study published in The Journal of Urology had similar findings. The researchers tested subjects with oral dosages of up to 10 g/day vitamin C for several days and conclude, “no genuine increase in urinary oxalate was demonstrable despite a greatly increased ascorbate intake.”

The article Vitamin C Does Not Cause Kidney Stones (Orthomolecular.org 2005) mentions a study of 45,251 men that found those taking above 1.5 g/day vitamin C had reduced risk of kidney stone. A follow-up study of 85,557 women for 14 years found the risk was the same for people taking under 250 mg/day and those taking 1.5 g/day. The authors of these large studies state that restricting high-dose vitamin C for potential kidney stone is unwarranted.

Beginning in the 1940s, Dr. William J. McCormick and Dr. Frederick R. Klenner reported that long-term use of high-dose oral vitamin C does not cause kidney stone in healthy adults, and can be protective.

Toward the end of his career, Dr. Robert F. Cathcart III reported that he had put an estimated 25,000 patients on high-dose oral vitamin C and none developed kidney stone as a result. Two patients not taking a high dosage developed kidney stone; he advised them to use a high dosage and they had no further problems.

The book “Ascorbate: The Science of Vitamin C” (Steve Hickey, PhD., Hilary Roberts, PhD. 1st ed., p. 95. Lulu 2004) mentions that throughout his career, Dr. Cathcart never saw high-dose oral vitamin C cause any adverse effects involving G6P6 deficiency, a rare genetic mutation in people of African or Middle Eastern descent. He treated two patients with hemochromatosis and both were able to safely use high-dose oral vitamin C with no adverse effects. Hemochromatosis is excess accumulation of iron in the body, usually caused by an inherited condition.