Be cautious of Vitamin C dosage

Sir,

The ‘Health Capsule’ regarding Vitamin C published in Star of Mysore recently appears to substantiate the notion that higher dose of Vitamin C will result in good health and longevity of life. The above notion is only partly true. There is no doubt that Vitamin C is an excellent anti-oxidant but it acts as a double-edged sword.

It is believed that when it scavenges oxy radicals, at the end of the radical chain it turns into a radical itself. Thus it may cause harm as a radical.

In the light of the above, it is worthwhile to remember our ancient saying, “Even the nectar at high amounts may turn into poison.” There is no reason to believe that higher the dose, higher the benefits. Hence, all the fallacies and fads should be approached and interpreted with caution.

– Dr. Leela Srinivas, K.R. Vanam, 22.5.2017

This post was published on June 6, 2017 6:40 pm