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Injectable Vitamin Supplement
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| Over the years, vitamin C has established itself as the pre-eminent nutrient for combating the common cold. Some regularly take supplements to reduce their risk of contracting a cold. Others load up on vitamin C once an infection has taken hold to contain symptoms and speed recovery. However, the hopes of those who put faith in vitamin C as an anti-infective agent seemed to be dashed on the recent publication of a study which appeared to show that it is a relatively ineffective weapon in the cold war.
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The research published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine analysed data from several studies and concluded that taking 200mg or more of vitamin C a day did not reduce the risk of succumbing to the common cold. However, in individuals subjected to cold weather or considerable physical stress (such as marathon running), supplementation cut the risk of cold infection by half. Also, while taking vitamin C prophylactically did not seem to reduce the risk of catching a cold, it did lead to a statistically significant reduction in the duration of an infection in children and adults. The consistency of the findings across studies suggests that vitamin C has a genuine biological effect. A wealth of evidence reveals vitamin C to have the ability to stimulate and support the immune system. The PLoS Medicine study found that supplementing with vitamin C once an infection had set in did not seem to confer benefit. However, studies of this nature have used pretty modest vitamin C dosages. My experience in practice, supported by some scientific evidence, is that once a cold has got a hold, only large doses stand a decent chance of speeding recovery. I recommend that those who feel they are going down with something should start by taking 3g of vitamin C right away, followed by 1g every waking hour until symptoms disappear. One study using high doses saw an 85 per cent reduction in cold and flu symptoms compared to an untreated group. Such large doses may loosen the bowels, though this symptom invariably resolves once the dosage is sufficiently reduced. The evidence suggests that the amount of vitamin C found in foods such as citrus fruits, kiwi fruits and strawberries is unlikely to do much to keep colds at bay. It seems that high-dose supplementation of vitamin C is required if this nutrient is to offer effective cold comfort. Dear John I have suffered from back pain for some years, and a recent scan has revealed I have a slight prolapse of a disc in my lower back. Could you recommend anything to strengthen or heal this disc? The bones in the spine are separated by spongy 'intervertebral discs' that act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to bend and twist more easily. Each disc is composed of a relatively hard outer material filled with a softer jelly-like centre. Degeneration or damage to a disc may cause it to bulge (prolapse) abnormally, which can lead to pain in the back and elsewhere due to nerve irritation. Each disc contains collagen, which is largely responsible for its resilience. Vitamin C has a vital part to play in the formation of collagen, and taking 1g to 2g a day may prevent further damage. Also, one of the basic building blocks of the tissue which comprises the intervertebral discs is called glucosamine. Take 1,500mg of glucosamine sulphate a day in the long term, as this may well help 'feed' your intervertebral discs and prevent further prolapse or damage. Nutrition news Vitamin B12 is a nutrient which has a broad range of benefits, including an ability to support brain function and ward off conditions such as heart disease and anaemia. As we age, there can be a tendency for our ability to absorb vitamin B12 from the diet to decline. Individuals who have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 are often treated with regular injections given into the muscle. In a recent study, researchers in the Netherlands assessed whether high oral doses might offer an alternative to B12 injections. This research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, discovered that daily oral doses of 647 to 1,032 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 given to elderly individuals for 16 weeks was sufficient to correct a deficiency of this nutrient. These results are in line with other studies which suggest supplementing with oral B12 at high dosage can correct B12 deficiency in poor absorbers of this nutrient. The level of supplementation required in these circumstances is substantially higher than the recommended daily allowance of 1mcg of vitamin B12. However, vitamin B12 has very little potential for toxicity, and evidence suggests that long-term supPlementation with dosages of up to 3,000mcg per day is safe.
RP