‘Ride the Tiger’ — a Documentary About the Bipolar Brain Do Men Sweat More Than Women? Life Expectancy Projected to Soar — Except in the US How CDC Uses False Fears to Promote Vaccine Uptake Vitamin C May Be a Potent Adjunct to Cancer Treatment Visit the Mercola Video Library Dr. Ronald Hunninghake is an internationally recognized expert on vitamin C who has personally supervised more than 60,000 intravenous (IV) vitamin C administrations. In this interview, Dr. Hunninghake shares his experience with this important modality.Foods rich in Vitamin C such as citrus and kiwi are generally good for your health. For most of us, high intake of vitamin C is not a problem because excess vitamin C is excreted through the urine. But for about one in every 200 Caucasians from northern Europe, too much vitamin C can lead to a health condition called iron overload. Iron overload, also known as hemochromatosis, refers to the condition in which you have too much iron in your blood.
Iron is an essential mineral for the human body. Iron deficiency can cause anemia. But too much iron can be toxic. Buildup of iron in the body can cause damage to the liver, heart, and pancreas. Signs and symptoms of iron overload rarely occur in men until they're 40-60 years old, and in women until after menopause. Early signs may include fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, and loss of sex drive. Later symptoms may include arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, heart abnormalities, and skin discoloration. Iron overload is predisposed by genetic mutations. In fact, it is one of the most common hereditary diseases in Caucasians, especially those of Northern European descent, with a prevalence as high as one in every 200 people. In this population, the majority of iron overload is due to mutations in the HFE gene (1-3). The HFE gene regulates the production of a protein called hepcidin, the master regulatory hormone for iron homeostasis. Hepcidin determines how much iron is absorbed from the diet and how much is released from storage sites in the body.
More than 20 mutations in the HFE gene that cause iron overload have been identified. Two in particular, the C282Y and H63D mutations, are responsible for most cases of iron overload disease (Figure 1).Allele frequencies for HFE mutations (a) C282Y and (b) H63D in Europe (from Ref. 4). The C282Y mutation (rs1800562) replaces the amino acid cysteine with the amino acid tyrosine. This replacement prevents the altered HFE protein from folding properly, making it unable to reach the cell surface and interact with transferrin receptor protein to produce hepcidin. As a result, iron regulation is disrupted and too much iron is absorbed from the diet, leading to iron overload. In northern Europe, one in eight people carry this mutation. Heterozygotes (those who carry one copy of the mutation and one copy of the normal gene) do not have the risk for iron overload. But the homozygotes (those who carry two copies of the mutation) do. The H63D mutation (rs1799945) replaces the amino acid histidine with the amino acid aspartic acid.
This replacement impairs the affinity of HFE protein to the transferrin receptor. Although this mutation is more common throughout Europe (carried by about 25% of the population), it only causes iron overload if present with the C282Y mutation, a combination known as a compound heterozygote. The homozygous H63D mutation genotype is typically normal in iron homeostasis. These two HFE mutations are less common in descendants of Africans and Asians. This explains why iron overload disease is rare in these populations (5). Not everyone who carries the risk genotypes develop iron overload. Among the 2.2% of Caucasians who are C282Y homozygous or C282Y/H63D compound heterozygous (Hanson et al., 2001), only a quarter develop the disease. This means the risk genotypes predispose the disease, but not enough to cause it. Two nutrients – iron and vitamin C – also contribute to the development of the disease. For risk genotype carriers, long-term intake of iron-rich foods and too much vitamin C can trigger iron overload.
As mentioned in the vitamin C overview, vitamin C enhances iron absorption and keeps iron in its active form. Therefore, one can prevent iron overload by keeping dietary intake of iron and vitamin C within recommendations. Since iron deficiency or vitamin C deficiency will cause other disorders, we recommend that concerned readers monitor their iron and vitamin C intake using our free diet and nutrition evaluator. Why is iron overload more prevalent in Caucasians? One theory suggests that the prevalence of the C282Y mutation in Caucasians might be the result of dietary transition from a hunter-gatherer diet rich in iron (red meat) to an iron-reduced cereal/grain diet during the Neolithic period in Europe. This mutation increased iron storage and protected carriers from anemia caused by iron deficiency. The lower incidence of this mutation in other agrarian regions may be due to higher dietary intake of vitamin C (6). The prevalence of the C282Y mutation in combination with abundant dietary iron, along with vitamin C fortified foods and the practice of vitamin C supplementation, has led to increased incidence of iron overload in Caucasians.
1. Crownover BK, Covey CJ. 2. Piperno A. 2013. Molecular diagnosis of hemochromatosis. Expert Opin Med Diagn. 3. Hanson EH, Imperatore G, Burke W. 2001. HFE gene and hereditary hemochromatosis: a HuGE review. 4. Distante S, Robson KJ, Graham-Campbell J, Arnaiz-Villena A, Brissot P, Worwood M. 2004. The origin and spread of the HFE-C282Y haemochromatosis mutation. 5. McDonald CJ, Wallace DF, Crawford DH, Subramaniam VN. 2013. Iron storage disease in Asia-Pacific populations: the importance of non-HFE mutations. 6. Naugler C. 2008. Hemochromatosis: a Neolithic adaptation to cereal grain diets. It is this very lack of solubility that makes liposomes impervious to stomach acids and bile salts. It also gives them quick and easy access into the bloodstream and enables them to slip across cell membranes as they quickly and safely transport nutrients to their intended destination. While there is no exact time these products have to be taken, we recommend taking them in the morning and/or early afternoon.
Taking the products too late in the evening may cause a burst of energy which could interfere with your normal sleep schedule. We also recommend that you take them on an empty stomach to provide the maximum and quickest entrance into the bloodstream.All LypriCel™ products are 100% non-GMO. Most of the phytochemicals in soybeans are also found in sunflower kernels, the source of sunflower lecithin. Like soybeans, sunflower kernels are well known to have protease inhibitors, phytates (phytic acid), saponins, isoflavones, oxalates and more.1 We have not found any evidence that soy or sunflower lecithin is unsafe. Sunflower lecithin is a wonderful source of phospholipids; it is not going to contain the same amounts of phytochemicals as a whole sunflower kernel. The same applies to high quality soy lecithin and purified phospholipids extracted from soy lecithin – neither are going to contain the same amounts of the phytochemicals found in raw soybeans. [1] Dr. Katherine Phillips of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University compiled a comprehensive paper that covers the range of phytochemicals found in sunflower kernels in her Final Report on the “Phytochemicals in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)” from April 2000.
While the LypriCel™ products contain nutrients that are vital to a healthy mother and baby, we recommend consulting with your healthcare practitioner before consuming any LypriCel™ supplements while pregnant or breastfeeding. We recommend you take the products on an empty stomach because they will enter the bloodstream faster, however the products may be taken with food or after a meal and they will still be fully absorbed by the body. For those who are prone to low blood sugar levels, the LypriCel™ B Complex Plus should be taken just before a light snack or meal. Hypoglycemic substances, like caffeine, should be avoided. We do not recommend mixing any of the LypriCel™ products in hot beverages like coffee or tea. For best results, we recommend taking the product with a cool beverage. The recommended dosage of each LypriCel™ product is one packet, taken 1 to 2 times per day. We recommend that you consult your healthcare practitioner before taking dosages that are higher than the recommended dosage.
Please note the LypriCel™ products are not intended to prevent, cure or treat any specific health condition or disease. If you are experiencing a health problem, we recommend finding a healthcare practitioner that is experienced with advanced, alternative medicine.The LypriCel™ products are routinely tested for changes in consistency and ingredient concentration at -4°F/-20°C and 104°F/40°C. When stored at -4°F/-20°C , the active ingredients will remain effective for at least 2 months, but the integrity of the liposomes may be damaged when frozen for more than 2 months. When stored at 104°F/40°C, the active ingredients of each product will remain effective for 1-2 months. Preservatives are used in our products to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold. We use preservatives that are best suited for each formulation. We only use the minimum amount necessary to provide you with safe, effective products. The LypriCel™ packet is comprised of a silver material that is laminated with two layers of polyethylene to provide a barrier between the layer of foil and the liquid product.
This barrier protects the product from potential leaching, and from oxygen and moisture. The LypriCel™ products are formulated for adults. Please consult your child’s physician before giving your child any LypriCel™ product. The LypriCel™ products are formulated for humans. Some of our customers have chosen to supplement their pet’s diet with the LypriCel™ Vitamin C and GSH, and have seen positive results. We recommend consulting with your veterinarian before starting any supplementation program for your pets. We recommend you consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you suspect you may have a health problem. You should consult your doctor before starting a supplementation program that includes any form of vitamin C if you have hemochromatosis, any type of hemolytic anemia, G6PD eficiency, known kidney insufficiency or failure, or you are currently taking a blood thinner like warfarin (Coumadin).
The LypriCel™ products contain high-potency nutrients that should not interfere with other common dietary supplements when taken by a generally healthy person. If you are taking other dietary supplements under the direction of a physician, we recommend consulting your physician before adding LypriCel™ supplements to your regimen. While the products contain well-researched nutrients that are taken by millions of people around the world, it is possible they could interfere with certain medications. For example, vitamin C in any form can lessen the blood-thinning effects of Coumadin or Warfarin. We urge anybody on either of these medications to supplement vitamin C and any other antioxidants under the guidance of their physicians only, so that the desired prolongation of prothrombin time can be achieved. If you are on prescription medication, we recommend you consult your healthcare professional or pharmacist before taking any LypriCel™ supplements. We also recommend you consult your healthcare practitioner before taking LypriCel™ R-ALA if you are taking glucose lowering medication, or receiving treatment for under-active or over-active thyroid.
We do not recommend blending any of the LypriCel™ products in a food processor or blender. LypriCel™ supplements are encapsulated in liposomes. Although these tiny bubbles are impervious to digestive juices and protect their valuable contents from oxidative degradation, they can be damaged with heat or violent agitation. We use Essential Phospholipids (EPL), which are made from non-GMO soy lecithin. Virtually all of the soy protein, which is of allergic concern to some individuals, is removed from the EPL during the extraction process. While we cannot guarantee our products do not contain trace amounts of soy protein, we routinely conduct DNA testing on each product with an independent laboratory. To date, the laboratory has not been able to detect any amounts of soy protein in our products. Yes, the LypriCel™ products can be taken at the same time.The packets may expand as latent air from the filling process tends to expand over time. This does not affect the quality of the product.