Basu TK, Jordan SJ, Jenner M, Williams DC. Blood values of some vitamins in long-stay psycho-geriatric patients. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1976; 46(1): 61-5. 

The half-life of vitamin C in the plasma at the most desirable higher level of c. 40mgs/litre is now known from the work of Hickey and Roberts to last no longer than c. 30 minutes. The lower level, regulated by the kidney to maintain the plasma at a minimum safe level but exposing the urogenital system to risk of infections and cancer, is capable of persisting for 8 to 40 days. 

Probably the healthiest option is a moderate daily oversupply of vitamin C such as   the Cathcart Bowel Tolerance system identifies as a reasonable limit. It varies with one’s state of health. Hickey, Roberts and Cathcart agreeing that divided doses of at least four per day (Cathcart) and every 3 hrs (Hickey) are necessary for optimal health and the author agrees.

CardioRetinometry:  The new Life saver ? This is an extract from the text of  a reply to physicians enquiring,  after great publicity on the Vitamin C Foundation and ‘Bolen Report’ websites following my two letters in the British Medical Journal of 23/7 & 26/11/04 (re Wong TY)

The reply refers to the coronary heart disease risk (CHD) suggested by universal retinal arterial atheroma, previously unsuspected as reversible, that Physicians have overlooked and Optometrists were not expecting. This was accidentally found and linked increasingly from 1999, by Retinometry in the Hull Contact Lens and Eye Clinic, to vitamin C that contact lens wearers had agreed to take. Such a discovery requires urgent evaluation; first in a pilot study and then, if successful, multi-centre studies of Nutritional Prophylactic CardioRetinometry for the reduction of debilitating CHD, stroke   aneurysm, some early cancers, much arthritis and very many ‘free radical’ type often fatal diseases, nearly ninety now suspected as rooted in scurvy. Only two pre 1982 papers connect Vitamin C and retinal atheroma on the National Library of Medicine Database.

After saying that the ‘ephemeral’ form of scurvy is easily diagnosed (patients had seen ‘before & after’ photos of the vessels around the cornea) I continued -

“The real longer term danger as I see it, is in the much postulated subclinical form of scurvy that is easily missed.  It is hidden; so well concealed…

“The vital interest for me, is in proving the much ignored Pauling/Rath CHD*  theory.

“The physician’s interest too, should be in the chronic subclinical form and the CVD** and CHD it portends when clearly seen, yet unsuspected for so long as reversible and preventable via the study of retinal vasculature and nutrition. True, I am guilty as well. But now this could all end with CardioRetinometry and people might hopefully anticipate freedom from worries about the risk of unhealthy hearts, blood pressure, aneurysm, stroke and a heart attack at any moment.”                                    *CHD = Coronary heart disease.   **CVD = cardiovascular disease.  

Signed: Sydney J Bush. PhD. DOpt. (IOSc. London)                                                                                                     Hull.    England 30^th Nov.  2004.                 

This is optometrically redefining scurvy in its two known forms, the subclinical form being proposed now as the slowly, most life shortening and widely distributed of all diseases, contributing more to underlying cause of death than any other condition! It does not appear on death certificates because it is so well hidden!  Yet people are today under the extremely seriously mistaken impression that nobody dies of scurvy any more! These studies may prove that we are all dying faster from scurvy than hitherto suspected unless (unlikely?) we dedicate our lives to providing the body with a continuous, massive dietary oversupply of vitamin C which, with our great liking for non-vitamin C bearing cereal foods; fatty, oily, too long stored and finally cooked foods, makes adequately optimum daily supply extremely unlikely if not impossible. Hence the prevalence of the vast range of diseases Man does not share with animals that generate their own vitamin C continuously.

Unfortunately for physicians, the recent announcement after 70 yrs of endless ‘research,’ that the half life of vitamin C in the bloodstream is no more than 30 mins,#  has finally convinced many, sceptical of a conspiracy to conceal the truth from their colleagues and the public, that perhaps unscrupulous physicians have, after all, sought to create and successfully maintain for so long a time, such a lucrative state of public ill health for personal gain. It was the greatest honour for the author and his new definitions of scurvy, to be featured by the Vitamin C Foundation website administrators on the same page as the double Nobel Prize winner and world famous scientist who championed vitamin C against the medical establishment, Linus Pauling.    # Hickey & Roberts ‘Ascorbate The Science of Vitamin C’   Pub. 2004.’   

The author believes that the world’s oldest people, like animals, do make a few milligrams of Vitamin C to others’ 1/10^th as much. Evidence exists for people in exclusion studies failing to suffer lower plasma ascorbate.    

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