Linus Pauling, PhD: The Last Interview (click through to read the whole thing)
PETER BARRY CHOWKA: Dr. Pauling, could you summarize the role that vitamin C plays in human health and its importance to the health of the nation as a whole?
LINUS PAULING, PhD: Vitamin C–ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate or calcium ascorbate–is involved in a great number of biochemical reactions in the human body. Two of its major interactions are in potentiating the immune system and aiding the synthesis of the protein collagen, which is a very important substance that holds together the human body. Collagen strengthens the blood vessels, the skin, the muscles and the bones. You can’t make collagen without using up vitamin C.
One piece of evidence that made quite an impression on me 20 years ago was when Irwin Stone, PhD, pointed out that most animals, except humans, monkeys and apes, manufacture vitamin C.2 They don’t rely on vitamin pills or on foods–they make vitamin C in their liver in amounts proportional to body weight. For an adult man the proportion turns out to be on the average about 10 or 12 grams (12,000 mg) a day. That’s 200 times the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)–200 times the amount people get in an ordinary diet! This is why I think we should be getting 200 times the amount of vitamin C that the Food and Nutrition Board recommends. The RDA, 60 mg, is far too small and indicates the importance of taking vitamin C supplements.
Dr. Pauling was almost as well known to the American public as he was to the world’s scientific community. He is the only person ever to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes — for Chemistry (1954) and for Peace
(1962).
Linus Pauling Institute – Tons of great information!!!
Related Product: Power C
