Ester C ???

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Mineral Ascorbates

The lion's share of all forms of vitamin C come as mineral ascorbates. The

most common mineral ascorbates used in vitamin C supplementation include

the following:

Sodium ascorbate

Calcium ascorbate

Magnesium ascorbate

Potassium ascorbate

Manganese ascorbate

Zinc ascorbate

Molybdenum ascorbate

Chromium ascorbate

Sodium ascorbate is probably the best and certainly the least expensive of

the mineral ascorbates for regular supplementation at relatively high doses

(six grams or more daily). Many doctors and patients fear the regular

dosing of sodium, however, due to the long-standing medical admonition to

minimize sodium intake, especially for hypertension and cardiac failure

patients. Indeed, sodium chloride (table salt) has long been known to

facilitate fluid retention (increased plasma volume), a state that directly

aggravates hypertension and heart failure. However, it appears that only

sodium really results in significant fluid retention when administered with

the chloride anion. Sodium when given with the anions citrate, ascorbate,

or bicarbonate does not appear to adversely affect hypertension or to

increase blood volume. Because of these findings, it has been directly

suggested that the concept of " sodium-dependent " hypertension should be

changed to " sodium chloride-dependent " hypertension (Kurtz and ,

1983; Kurtz et al., 1987). Anecdotally, I have never found multi-gram doses

of sodium ascorbate to adversely affect blood pressure or blood volume

status. However, since there always appear to be exceptions to every rule

in biology, anyone who notices elevated blood pressures or ankle edema

after high doses of sodium ascorbate would probably be well-advised to

supplement with a different form of vitamin C.

Calcium ascorbate is currently a very popular form of vitamin C

supplementation. In addition to being directly labeled as calcium

ascorbate, this form of vitamin C is also marketed as an " ester " form of

vitamin C or a " buffered " form of vitamin C. Much of the popularity of this

form of vitamin C comes from the fact that many people are looking for

extra sources of calcium on a daily basis in addition to taking their

vitamin C. With some minor variability, these products typically deliver

approximately 100 mg of calcium for every 800 to 900 mg of ascorbate given.

Also, the 100 mg or so of calcium with each gram of product usually has a

very high degree of absorption when compared to other common forms of

calcium supplementation, such as calcium chloride or calcium bicarbonate

(Tsugawa et al., 1999).

However, the calcium-delivering properties of calcium ascorbate are

precisely the best reasons for avoiding this product. Although it appears

from the early work of Weston A. Price, D.D.S. that acutely raising the

ionic calcium levels in the blood can greatly improve the acute phases of

healing in damaged tissues, this does not address what the long-term

consequences of calcium administration may entail. In fact, it appears that

the bulk of the scientific data supports the concept that the vast majority

of the older population is massively overdosed on calcium and legitimately

suffering from calcium toxicity. We continue to be stressed with warnings

of increased risk of osteoporosis while the data clearly shows that most

deaths in patients with osteoporosis relate to the vascular system and not

the bones (Kruger and Horrobin, 1997). Furthermore, excess calcium in the

coronary arteries, one marker of long-term calcium overdosage, is also

directly correlated to increased risk of heart attack (Raggi et al., 2003),

increased incidence of chronic degenerative disease (Arad et al., 2001;

Christian et al., 2003; Kiryu et al., 2003; Wong et al., 2003), and

increased degree of overall " all-cause mortality " (Shaw et al., 2003).

So, if you are a older chronic calcium supplement taker, just be aware that

there are negatives to this practice. The chance of dying from an

osteoporotic fracture doesn't remotely approach the chances of dying from a

heart attack, cancer, or another chronic degenerative disease. Furthermore,

it is far from clear that the traditional treatment approach to

osteoporosis significantly affects the likelihood of a subsequent fracture.

The scientific evidence, however, is very clear that supplemental calcium

often fuels the progression of atherosclerosis, with the expected increased

chance of heart attack.

If the above does not convince you that supplemental calcium, with very

rare exceptions, should be completely avoided, at least start tracking your

calcium accumulations. The coronary artery CAT scan should show no calcium.

Check it. Your heart should not be calcifying. Check your ECHOcardiogram.

Hair analysis should not show excess calcium. Check it. If any or all of

these tests are positive for calcium, you should be especially concerned

about dumping still more supplemental calcium into your blood and body on a

daily basis.

Magnesium ascorbate is another significant mineral ascorbate. Unlike the

other mineral ascorbates (except for sodium ascorbate) it is very difficult

to overdose on this form of ascorbate. This is because the magnesium cation

is very bioavailable and very effective in reversing the damage done by

excess calcium, a condition shared by most older individuals. Bioavailable

magnesium (as ascorbate or as magnesium-amino acid chelates; NOT the

commonly taken magnesium oxide form) is very effective in mobilizing

abnormally deposited calcium throughout the body. As such, it is one of the

most effective (and still least utilized) treatments available for

osteoporosis.

While there is nothing wrong with taking large amounts of magnesium

ascorbate, it is more economical to take large doses of bioavailable

magnesium and sodium ascorbate separately to obtain the optimal effects of

both these supplements.

Potassium, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and chromium ascorbates are

additional mineral ascorbates. All of the cations are desirable as

supplements, but they can be easily be overdosed if they are used to

deliver multi-gram doses of ascorbate.

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Ascorbyl palmitate is another form of vitamin C that is somewhat unique in

that it has both water-soluble and fat-soluble qualities. It is touted by

some as a superior delivery form of vitamin C as ascorbate into the body.

This has not really been clearly proven, and even if it were, ascorbyl

palmitate would be a very expensive way to provide daily multi-gram doses

of ascorbate. The fat-soluble qualities of ascorbyl palmitate do make it a

good form of vitamin C to include in various skin creams and other

dermatological preparations.

Liposome-encapsulated Ascorbate

Liposomes were first proposed as a unique drug delivery system

approximately 35 years ago (Bangham, 1995; Gregoriadis, 1995). One of the

primary reasons for utilizing a liposome-encapsulation delivery system is

to assure a near complete absorption of the encapsulated nutrient or drug

into the bloodstream. The physical qualities of the liposome also eliminate

the need for digestive activity before absorption.

Anecdotally speaking, I have taken a liposome-encapsulated form of

ascorbate and found that it is virtually impossible to induce the " C-flush "

effect that can be seen with large enough doses of the mineral ascorbates,

most commonly sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate. Furthermore, it

appears that the enhanced absorption along with the phospholipid dose

absorbed at the same time has uniquely positive clinical benefits.

My Current Recommendations

For the reasons mentioned above, I never recommend the regular ingestion of

vitamin C as calcium ascorbate. The remaining mineral ascorbates are

acceptable forms of vitamin C supplementation, but one can risk overdosing

the cations if multi-gram doses of these forms of vitamin C are taken, with

the exceptions of the sodium and magnesium ascorbates.

For regular daily supplementation, sodium ascorbate is an economical,

well-tolerated form of vitamin C. While many wish to avoid the " C-flush "

effect, it appears to be a very good way to keep the gut relatively

detoxified and clean. For those wishing to have a near-complete absorption

of their vitamin C dose, the liposome-encapsulated form of vitamin C is

optimal.

For acute infectious and toxic states, I still recommend getting

intravenous sodium ascorbate, usually at doses of 50 grams or more over

several hours for most individuals. However, I would also recommend adding

the liposome-encapsulated form of vitamin C orally at the same time. If the

intravenous sodium ascorbate is not available, I recommend taking sodium

ascorbate to bowel tolerance, and then taking the liposome-encapsulated

form of vitamin C, several grams hourly, guided by symptoms and clinical

response to determine subsequent dosing.

Resources for Liposomal Vitamin C

stebs7@... wrote:

Dear Sherri:

What is wrong with Ester C? Its sounds so

great. I don't use it but I add crushed citrus

bioflavonoids to my C powder.(25,000 mg of

bioflavonoids to 500,000 mg C). Is that okay?

Blessings, in Poland