Experts Call for Review of Vitamin C RDA

Experts Call for Review of Vitamin C RDA

SAN DIMAS, Calif.--Several antioxidant researchers, authors andclinicians have sent a written plea to the Institutes of Medicine, Food &Nutrition Board, requesting a scientific re-evaluation of the Recommended DailyAllowance (RDA) for vitamin C. The request comes in response to recent researchindicating higher concentrations of vitamin C can be achieved in blood plasmathan previously thought possible.

Two recently published papers indicate that blood plasma levels of ascorbicacid can be raised three times greater than a 1996 study indicates. One of thepublished studies shows blood plasma concentrations of vitamin C continue torise with a single 1,000 mg dose of supplemental vitamin C. In addition, SteveHickey and Hilary Roberts, pharmacology graduates of the University ofManchester in England, assert the initial studies used to determine the bloodplasma saturation point for vitamin C failed to calculate for the half life ofthe vitamin. The originals calculations used to establish the RDA were performed12 hours, or 24 half lives, after oral consumption of vitamin C.