NATUROPATHIC NUTRITION

Vitamin C, Quercetin,
Choline & Inositol
 VITAMIN C
 NAME: Ascorbic Acid / ascorbate (Compound forms:
Calcium ascorbate, Sodium ascorbate)
 MAJOR SOURCES: all fruit esp. citrus, kiwi fruit,
blackcurrants, & pineapple, capsicums, rosehips, red
cabbage, broccoli, parsley, tomatoes, paw paw,
strawberries. Unstable to heat, light and processing.
 RDI: 45mg / day
 THERAPEUTIC RANGE: 500-2000mg per day (up
to 6g per day in acute situations – take 500mg
hourly until reach 6g).
2
 VITAMIN C
TOXICITY / Adverse Effects:
 Doses of 3-5g causes bloating and diarrhoea in some people.
 Promotes iron absorption so may increase risk of iron overload
in those with haemochromatosis and other rbc diseases.
 May increase excretion of uric acid and oxalate in urine.
However, in healthy people who have never had kidney
stones, increased vitamin C consumption is not associated
with kidney stones.
 Enhances the absorption of aluminium so avoid concurrent
administration with aluminium containing compounds (e.g.
antacids containing aluminium hydroxides etc.)
 Use cautiously with blood thinners due to capacity to decrease
platelet aggregation.

3
 Comments:
 Bioflavonoids are said to increase absorption of vitamin C
by 35%
 Storage: 5gms in body in adrenals (cortex & medulla),
pituitary, WBC’s, endothelial cells and many others. The
only major cell type that does not concentrate ascorbate is
the RBC.
 Drugs affecting nutrients: Oestrogen, copper excess,
cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids, barbituates.
 Most mammals synthesize ascorbate in the liver. Reptiles
and some birds synthesize ascorbate in the kidney.
 Humans, other primates, guinea pigs and a few other
sundry creatures cannot synthesize ascorbate.
4
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Antioxidant
 Important in in tissues with high oxidant production and / or
oxygen concentrations e.g. Neutrophils, monocytes,
macrophages, lung and eye tissues.
 Intracellular functions involving DNA transcription, mRNA
stability and translation and regulation of apoptosis.
 Extracellular antioxidant. Decreases lipid peroxidation and
protects LDLs from oxidation – factors that contribute to
atherogenesis.
 Regenerates vitamin E when it is oxidised in liposomes.
 Decreases adhesion of monocytes to endothelium
and aggregation of platelets and leukocytes.
(Stipanuk, MH 2006, Biochemical, Physiological, Molecular Aspects of Human
Nutrition, 2nd edn, Saunders Elsevier, pp. 780-782.)

5
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Immunostimulant – Enhances activity of NK
cells and lymphocytes.
 Immunomodulatory – Regulates and
modulates lymphocytes, phagocytes, NK
cells and influences antibody and cytokine
synthesis.
 Anti-inflammatory – Quenches oxidants that
leak from neutrophils and macrophages and
protects fibroblasts and collagen.
 Antihistamine
 anticancer
6
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Collagen and connective tissue synthesis &
maintenance. Needed for effective wound
healing (esp burns and surgery) and healthy
blood vessels.
 Adrenocorticotropic hormone synthesis
 Adrenals have highest storage level.
Stress increases excretion of Vit.C.
Required for production of adrenaline and
noradrenaline and other neurotransmitters

7
 CLINICAL DEFFICIENCY DISEASE:
Scurvy
 Fatigue
 Small areas of bleeding under the skin
(petechial haemorrhage) then larger areas of
bleeding (ecchymoses).
 Hyperkeratosis (increased skin cells around hair
follicles).
 Gum bleeding and tenderness.
 Scurvy killed 50% of crews on long voyages.
Captain Cook used sprouted barley and lime
juice to combat.
8
 CLINICAL DEFFICIENCY DISEASE:
Scurvy
 Scorbutic gums: gums bleed, teeth get loose
and fall out.
 Pinpoint hemorrhages: indicating spontaneous
internal bleeding esp. around hair follicle
 Heart muscles degenerate, wounds fail to heal
because of lack of scar tissue. Bone rebuilding
fails and fractures result. Anemia and infection
occur. Sudden death is likely due to massive
internal bleeding.

9
 CLINICAL DEFFICIENCY DISEASE:
SUBCLINICAL DEFFICIENCY SIGNS:
 Fatigue is first symptom of vitamin C deficiency
 Capillary fragility- easy bruising, bleeding gums,
varicose veins, petechial haemorrhages
 Poor immunity & poor wound healing
 Emotional changes such as irritability and
depression
 Oedema – from decreased aldosterone
synthesis and capillary fragility
 Vague arthralgias and myalgias
10
 THERAPEUTIC USES:
 Iron deficiency anaemia
 Upper respiratory tract infections
 Sound healing and skin protection
 Prevention of cardiovascular disease
 Cancer prevention
 Diabetes insulin may help vitamin C enter cell.
1-3g per day decreases glycosylated
haemoglobin levels thus reducing
complications from the disease.

11
 THERAPEUTIC USES:
 Connective tissue disorders: capillary
fragility, bleeding, bruising, surgery, arthritis,
easy joint dislocation, burns, slow healing
 Prevention of cataracts
 Bone mineral density
 Smoking
 Male infertility

12
 THERAPEUTIC USES:
 Populations at Risk of Deficiency:
 Those with cancer cachexia
 Poor intake
 Malabsorption
 Smokers
 Pregnant and breast feeding women
 Thyrotoxicosis
 Acute and chronic inflammatory diseases
 Diabetes
 Major burns, surgery and infections
13
 Chronic diarrhoea
 OTHER COMMENTS:
 Requirementscan vary enormously
depending on stress levels & immune needs.
 VitaminC is especially useful in cases of
acute & chronic infection, stress & to
maintain integrity of connective tissue.
 Combine with vitamin A & E as they
scavenge free radicals in cell membranes &
vitamin C does so in aqueous environments
intracellularly and extracellularly.
 Cleanteeth after using chewable tablets to
protect enamel from acid.
14
 OTHER COMMENTS:
 Vitamin C is excreted via urine & in cases of
severe deficiency, IV administration is more
effective.
Naturopathic Nutrition 2 Week 5

 Smoking severely reduces vitamin C in

neutralising free radicals produced by cigarette
smoke (suggested that 25mg lost with each
cigarette).
 Ascorbic
acid is often too acidic to take alone, so
use Ca or Na ascorbate
 Esterified
vitamin C (Ester-C) is a readily
absorbable, more biologically effective form
15
 Quercetin
 NAME: Quercetin (a bioflavonoid)
 MAJOR SOURCES: Apples, berries, beans, black
tea, broccoli, grapes, green tea, onions, red wine, St
John’s Wort, ginkgo, cranberry and evening
primrose.
 RDA: N/A
 THERAPEUTIC RANGE 250-1500mg/day.
 TOXICITY: Generally well-tolerated but use with
caution in thyroid disease
16
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Antioxidant / pro-oxidant
 Antiinflammatory
 Antiviral
 Immunomodulation
 Anti-allergy
 Antihypertensive
 Cardioprotective
 Antiatherogenic
 Neuroprotective
 Cognitive enhancement & anxiolytic
17
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Gastroprotective
 Cognitive enhancement and anxiolytic
 Hepatoprotective
 Antidiabetic
 Preventing bone loss
 Improving sperm quality

18
 THERAPEUTIC USES:
 Allergies
 Asthma
 Diabetes
 Cataracts
 Cardiovascular disease
 Metabolic syndrome
 Chronic prostaitis

19
 CHOLINE
 MAJOR SOURCES: yeast, liver, lecithen, wholegrains, egg
yolks, dandelion, sesame seeds, mushrooms, brazil nuts,
human milk
 RDI: N/A AI: 550mg
 THERAPEUTIC RANGE: 1-3g/day (as part of B complex)
UL: 3,500mg/day
 TOXICITY: >20g/day can cause nausea & diarrhoea.
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Component of phospolipids in every cell membrane
 Lipid transport & metabolism
 Formation of ACh
 Synthesis of myelin
 Hepatic detoxification of chemicals
20  Hepatic regeneration and production bile salts
 CHOLINE
 CLINICAL DEFFICIENCY DISEASE: None
 SUBCLINICAL DEFFICIENCY SIGNS:
 Systemic toxicity & liver congestion
 CVS problems
 Reduced nervous function
 THERAPEUTIC USES:
 CVS Disorders (eg: atherosclerosis, hypertension,
hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglycerideaemia)
 NS disorders (eg: Parkinsons, Myasthenia gravis, MS,
Menieres, dementia, depression, seizures)
 Liver & GB problems (eg: obesity, gall stones, fatty
liver, hepatitis, alcoholism)
21
 OTHER COMMENTS:
 Choline acts primarily in fat & cholesterol
transport & use, preventing fatty liver &
optimising lipid metabolism.
 Actssynergistically with inositol & methionine in
formation of phospholipids, protection and
regeneration of liver.
 Ithas been proposed that Alziemer’s can be
caused by a lack of ACh in CNS.
 Recent studies indicate that 4-10g choline daily
can significantly improve the brain’s ability to
reason, learn & remember.
22
 INOSITOL
 MAJOR SOURCES: lecithin, yeast, molasses, legumes,
oatmeal, bacterial synthesis in gut, nuts, seeds.
 RDA: N/A THERAPEUTIC RANGE: Up to 3g/day
 TOXICITY: >3g/day can cause diarrhoea.
 PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Lipotrophic – keeps fats in solution
 Synthesis of myelin and structural bonds of CNS
 Growth of liver, hair, bone marrow, eye membranes
 Regulates& protects cell surface (receptor expression,
hormone binding)
 Liver: detoxification of chemicals, LDL → VLDL
23  Hepatic regeneration
 INOSITOL
 CLINICAL DEFFICIENCY DISEASE: None
 SUBCLINICAL DEFFICIENCY SIGNS:
 Systemic toxicity & liver congestion
 CVS problems
 Reduced nerve function
 THERAPEUTIC USES:
 CVS Disorders (eg: atherosclerosis, hypertension,
hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglycerideaemia)
 NS disorders (eg: insomnia, memory impairment,
dementia, depression, neuromuscular impairment,
anxiety, schizophrenia)
 Liver & GB problems (gall stones, fatty liver)
24
 OTHER COMMENTS:
 Inositolacts primarily in fat & cholesterol
transport & use, preventing fatty liver &
optimising lipid metabolism.
 Acts synergistically with choline & methionine
in formation of phospholipids, protection of
liver & stimulation of hepatic regeneration.
 Look for pterygiums as a sign of deficient liver
function & disordered lipid metabolism that
can be helped with inositol & choline.

25