Alternative Treatment for Autoimmune Disease: High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy

Posted By Lydian Shipp | Dec 27, 2022

DISCLAIMER: CONSULT WITH A DOCTOR BEFORE DECIDING ON A TREATMENT PLAN FOR ANY DISEASE.

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Can Vitamin C cure autoimmune disease?

Vitamin C is perhaps one of the most commonly talked about and best understood vitamins among the general public. However, while a lot of the information that’s propagated about vitamin C is true (which is somewhat unusual when it comes to disease cures and treatments that work), a large majority of Americans and other people in developed countries, and beyond, have been taught that vitamin supplements have limited utility. In fact, outside of encouraging pregnant women to take a prenatal supplement, little is done to encourage the use of vitamin and mineral supplements among the rest of the population. This is unfortunate, since in most cases, vitamins and minerals are actually an excellent first line of defense against disease. They can function not only as prophylactic treatments, but also as treatments or even cures for both serious and not-so-serious health problems. Vitamin C in particular has some important curative and preventative properties when it comes to the treatment of autoimmune disease.

Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency

While true vitamin C deficiency (otherwise known as scurvy) is generally rare in developed countries, low levels of this nutrient can have negative health outcomes. Below is a list of some of the symptoms of vitamin C deficiency:

Chronic inflammation
Bleeding gums
Fatigue
Anemia
Loss of appetite
Joint and muscle pain
Easy bruising
Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever (especially during the daytime hours)
Hair loss or breakage
Red or blue spots on the skin (generally on the shins)

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, so you need to consume it every day in suitable quantities. In contrast with the fat-soluble vitamins, which can be stored in the fat for later use, water-soluble vitamins must be taken in every day since they’re excreted relatively quickly via the urine. Individuals with a poor diet, who consume few foods with good vitamin C content, are at a higher risk of developing a vitamin C deficiency. People who regularly drink alcohol or smoke tobacco are at a higher risk as well; some research has also indicated that men may be at an overall higher risk of developing vitamin C deficiency than women.

Besides taking vitamin C supplements, you can also incorporate vitamin C rich foods into your diet. Some of the best dietary sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits of all kinds, tomatoes, potatoes, papaya, strawberries, broccoli, bell peppers (especially sweet, red ones), chili peppers, pineapple, and mango, among other foods.

Vitamin C and the Gallbladder

I want to start this discussion of vitamin C and autoimmunity by talking briefly about how this vitamin affects the health of the gallbladder. Since the health (or in this case, lack of health) of the gallbladder plays such a key role in autoimmune disease, it’s important to consider how vitamin C benefits the gallbladder. One of the main ways that vitamin C works in the gallbladder is to prevent the formation of gallstones. Without sufficient amounts of vitamin C, the body will be unable to produce enough 7α-hydroxylase, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of cholesterol to bile salts. Without this enzyme, cholesterol can build up in the gallbladder, which eventually leads to gallstone formation. In addition, bile production is reduced due to the presence of "sludge" and/or gallstones in the gallbladder and bile ducts. Therefore, digestion and the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients is impaired (read more about fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies and autoimmune disease in this article).

But vitamin C doesn't just help prevent the development of gallstones. As a kind of natural antibiotic, vitamin C also has the added advantage of being able to target certain pathogens that may have set up in the liver or gallbladder. While pharmaceutical antibiotics can’t reach these two organs, vitamin C can access the liver and gallbladder. This makes it possible to more effectively eliminate pathogens living in these organs that may be causing the symptoms of autoimmune disease. Note that in order for vitamin C to work in this way, it must be taken in high doses for a long enough period of time.

Pathogenic Infections That Can Be Treated with High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy

Since many autoimmune diseases are caused by the presence of an undetected pathogen living in a difficult-to-reach part the body (such as in the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, or lymph glands, among other areas), I thought it was relevant to note here which specific pathogens are most likely to be eliminated with high-dose vitamin C treatment. A list of some of these pathogens is below:

Viral hepatitis (including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C) - Treatment should include not only vitamin C, but also alpha lipoic acid, vitamin E, and silymarin.
Helicobacter pylori
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
Herpes simplex
COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses and bacteria
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Proteus mirabilis
Staphylococcus aureus
Shingles / Herpes zoster
Diphtheria
Chickenpox / Varicella
Influenza
Measles
Mumps
Viral encephalitis
Poliomyelitis

Dr. Klenner first worked with high-dose vitamin C in the mid-1900s. During a poliomyelitis outbreak in North Carolina, he administered 1000-2000mg of vitamin C every 2-4 hours to a group of 60 patients during the first 24 hours of treatment. After this, the patients’ fevers had gone down, and they were then given 1000-2000mg of vitamin C every 6 hours for the next 48 hours of treatment. Within only 3 days, all 60 of the poliomyelitis patients had recovered from the infection.

Micro Ingredients Pure Vitamin C Crystal Powder (Water Soluble Vitamin C 1000mg Per Serving), 1 KG (2.2 Pounds), Immune Vitamins and Strong Antioxidant, Pure Ascorbic Acid Powder Supplement

Dr. Klenner followed a similar dosing schedule for patients with other types of viral infections. With Herpes zoster infections, though, he instead administered 2000-3000mg of vitamin C to patients every 12 hours, with 1000mg of vitamin C powder given mixed with fruit juice every 2 hours. The treatment of chickenpox is similar. The patients in both of these clinical studies done by Dr. Klenner invariably improved significantly over the course of just 3 days of treatment.

High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy for Autoimmune Disease

Vitamin C therapy may work to treat a long list of autoimmune diseases given its powerful healing abilities against pathogenic infection. So, even if the specific autoimmune disease you’re looking for isn’t written about here, this doesn’t mean that high-dose vitamin C can’t work for your situation. Below, we’ve included some more detailed information about the use of vitamin C in the treatment of specific autoimmune conditions.

Vitamin C and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Some studies have shown that vitamin C supplementation may help alleviate the symptoms of lupus and prevent the occurrence of active lupus. One study done of 279 women in Japan in 2003 indicated that women with lupus who took in more vitamin C had a lower incidence of vascular events, lower IgA and anti-dsDNA levels, and lower levels of inflammation. The vitamin C dose used in this study was relatively low, and one can assume that higher doses of vitamin C would be more likely to have a positive effect on patients with lupus.

Vitamin C and Vitiligo

Multiple studies indicate that the use of several antioxidants, including high dose vitamin C therapy, can help support repigmentation in vitiligo patients. One animal study that combined vitamin C with vitamin E and vitamin A observed that 70% of the mice in the study had visible repigmentation. Indeed, other research has indicated that the levels of certain important antioxidants like CoQ10, vitamin E, and glutathione are reduced in the epidermis layer of the skin of vitiligo patients.

This animal study suggests that a supplementation protocol including vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc + copper, and selenium supplements may specifically benefit vitiligo patients.

Vitamin C and Sjörgen’s Syndrome

Some studies have shown that vitamin C can help increase prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) levels in patients with Sjörgen’s syndrome. Two of the main symptoms of Sjörgen’s, dry eyes and dry mouth, may be due to lower-than-normal PGE1 levels; since vitamin C is essential for PGE1 synthesis, it’s logical to assume that vitamin C supplements may support adequate production of this prostaglandin. In one study, the administration of vitamin C in combination with essential fatty acids and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) successfully increased tear and saliva production.

Vitamin C and Ankylosing Spondylitis

Norman Cousins, the author of a well-known book, Anatomy of an Illness, successfully cured himself of ankylosing spondylitis with the use of high-dose vitamin C therapy. Cousins started with a dose of 10 grams of vitamin C on the first day, then 12.5 grams on the second day, and 15 grams on the third day of treatment. He continued increasing the dose in the same increments until he reached a daily dose of 25 grams of intravenous vitamin C by the end of the first week. In his report of healing, he says that by the eighth day he was able to move his thumbs comfortably and without pain.

While Cousins used intravenous vitamin C treatments, high-quality oral vitamin C supplements, or the use of a pure ascorbic acid powder combined with DMSO, can also produce the same results, so long as the patient administers the vitamin C in the appropriate doses.

Other Autoimmune Diseases That Can Be Treated with High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy

Vitamin C can and has been used as a successful treatment for a long list of health problems. Below is just a short list of other autoimmune diseases that have been shown to benefit from high-dose vitamin C therapy:

Cancer (including pancreatic cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer)
Arthritis
Multiple sclerosis
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Autoimmune pancreatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis

Vitamin C Dosage for Autoimmune Disease

Vitamin C can be taken safely at remarkably high doses. However, not everyone needs to take super high doses of vitamin C in order for it to be healing; each patient should start with a lower dose, and gradually increase their dosage until they reach their saturation dose. To do this, start with a dose of 500mg. Wait 30 minutes. If you don’t notice anything, take another 500mg. Wait another 30 minutes. Continue this until you begin to feel some gurgling in your intestines. When you get to this point, this is your “saturation dose” and the dose you should aim to take daily.

NOW Supplements, Vitamin C-1,000 with 100 mg of Bioflavonoids, Antioxidant Protection*, 250 Veg Capsules

Vitamin C can also be combined with DMSO to increase the strength of this nutrient. If you don’t have access to IV vitamin C therapy (which is ideal), or if your budget is tight, this is a more budget friendly way to safely administer large amounts of vitamin C directly into the bloodstream. Read more about how to administer vitamin C powder with DMSO here.

Low odor DMSO - Dimethyl sulfoxide liquid 3.4 Oz - 100 ml | Pharmaceutical grade ingredient | High purity | Heiltropfen®

Note that some people may do better taking a larger dose of vitamin C all at once, while other people prefer to separate their vitamin C doses out across the day. Either way is fine. Be sure to choose a supplement that contains only L-ascorbic acid (the natural form); it may be taken in capsules or in a powdered form.

Vitamin C has a half-life of 10-12 hours. If you accidentally take more than your saturation dose and end up with diarrhea or other symptoms, these will pass within about 10-12 hours. Wait to take more vitamin C until these symptoms have passed.

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