Posted by Tomatheus on July 25, 2006, at 11:13:32
In reply to help with Vitamin C for Bipolar plz, posted by bipolarspectrum on July 24, 2006, at 22:07:45
Bps,
I actually recently started taking vitamin C myself to try to keep my symptoms of depression and anxiety at bay (I'm not currently taking any meds). I took it previously when I was on both lithium and Wellbutrin, and it seemed to slightly improve my cognition.
Dr. James L. Wilson made what I thought were some useful points on the use of vitamin C supplements in his book, "Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome." Among other things, Wilson wrote that vitamin C cannot be fully "metabolized and utilized" by the body unless it is made up of *both* ascorbic acid and bioflavinoids. These bioflavinoids, he wrote, occur naturally with ascorbic acid in citrus fruits and other foods, and they double the effectiveness of ascorbic acid. Wilson recommended taking a vitamin C supplement that contains 1 mg of bioflavinoids for every 2 mg of ascorbic acid.
In the U.S., vitamin C is sold over the counter at most pharmacies and grocery stores. However, you may need to go to a health-food store to find a vitamin C supplement that contains both ascorbic acid and bioflavinoids -- especially if you're looking for a supplement that contains at least 1 mg of bioflavinoids for every 2 mg of ascorbic acid. Some health-food stores also sell time-release versions of vitamin C and versions that "buffer" the vitamin's acidity.
Based on everything I've read about vitamin C, it is my impression that the "proper dose" may vary considerably from one individual to the next. Wilson wrote that individuals with "adrenal fatigue" (described as a deficiency in the functioning of the adrenal glands, which results in an abnormally low production of cortisol) typically require 2-4 grams per day (2,000-4,000 mg/day) to maintain proper adrenal functioning. He added that some individuals he's known have required 15,000-20,000 mg/day.
I'm currently taking 1,000 mg/day of a vitamin C supplement that contains 250 mg of "vitamin C" (as ascorbic acid, rose hips, and acerola cherries) and 250 mg of bioflavinoids (a 1:1 ratio). Like the last time that I supplemented with vitamin C, I've noticed some mild cognitive improvement since I started taking it, but when I say "mild", I mean *very* mild. So, I'll be increasing my dose to see if I can get any added improvements.
This may sound obvious, but I've found that it's generally a good idea to start taking most supplements at a relatively low dose and then to increase the dose as needed. Wilson recommended starting with a dose of 500 mg of ascorbic acid (and 250 mg of bioflavinoids, if the ascorbic acid-bioflavinoid ratio is 2:1), but you may want to check with a doctor before determining what starting dose would be best for you.
I hope this helps some. Let me know if you have any questions about anything that I've written.
Tomatheus
> Hi,
> I'd like to try supplementing vitamin c to attempt to improve my bipolar disorder.. what is a proper dose? can i just purchase the vitamin c from the pharmacy??? anything special i should know?
> bps
poster:Tomatheus
thread:670191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060704/msgs/670328.html