Posted on 02/16/2013 11:50:50 PM PST by neverdem
Vitamin supplements are popular items these days. Vitamin C is particularly popular in the winter, when people pop tablets at the first sign of a cold. However, data indicates that vitamin C doesn't actually prevent colds, but long-term use may slightly reduce the severity or duration of a cold when you do catch one.
So, should we all start popping vitamin C tablets every day? Probably not. A new study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that men who took 1,000-mg tablets of vitamin C were twice as likely to develop kidney stones as men who did not take vitamin C supplements. (See chart below.) The effect was not observed for men who took multivitamins.
To determine relative risk (RR), the authors compared the rate of kidney stones in men who did not take vitamin supplements (163 per 100,000 person-years) to the rate of kidney stones in men who took vitamin C supplements (310 per 100,000 person-years). Dividing 310 by 163 gives a crude RR of 1.90, which in this case, is the same as the age-adjusted RR...
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearscience.com ...
I've been taking 5g a day of Vitamin C for years. I've never had a kidney stone. My brother does not. He gets kidney stones. QED.
In other words, there is NO statistical difference between NOT taking 1000MG of vitamin C or actually taking 1000MG vitamin C when it comes down to kidney stones in men. This is nothing less than DISinformation.
NO data about its obvious effectiveness in helping with the common cold...
Gee whiz, Wally, do you think there might be something ELSE going on?
Yup. Statistics, it takes a Feynmannian intellect (or a small bit of common sense) to spot the nonsense.
Total bullshit. I have been taking five grams a day for nearly forty years — ever since Dr Linus Pauling wrote his famous book and have never had a kidney stone. Or a cold. Or any other major disease.
Never heard this one before regarding Vit. C and kidney stones, however, I’d stay away from excessive amounts of Tums for heartburn. I used to take pretty many, and I did get a kidney stone; no more Tums for me.
kidney stones are due to diet, genetics, and how much liquid you drink.
This is anecdotal, not statistical. Maybe you generate kidney stones so often and excrete them while they are so small that you think you do not have them. I dunno. But since I have had kidney stones several times, and the last one was 9 mm long x ~6 mm diameter, and cost several thousands for the lithitripsy, I think I'm going to give the statistics in this article some thought more than your anecdotal conclusion. And I'm posting this to suggest that others do likewise.
Correlation is not Causation.
True, but it is unclear which or how many other supplements the researchers controlled for. Of the vitamin C users, 3.4 percent developed kidney stones for the first time during the study, compared to 1.8 percent of non-supplement users.
Obviously the vast majority of men taking it are not coming down with kidney stones. That doesn’t mean the findings are useless. I take 500 mg a day with an iron tablet and am going to ask about continuing at my next visit to the doctor.
Regular orange juice I thought was actually beneficial in preventing kidney stones, maybe it is only the ascorbic acid in tablet form or in high doses that presents problems for some folks ??
A few comments on Vit C intake: 99% of C is manufactured in China. I would eat nothing made in China. 2. Vit C is metabolized to oxalate which in combination with calcium forms calcium oxalate crystals, the basis of some forms of stones in humans. 3. Vit C is an antioxidant, having other health benefits. 4. Taking massive doses probably leads to an increase in stone incidence in susceptible people. 4. Massive doses of C are simply excreted in the urine, most unmetabolized. 5. Vit C’s effect on fighting the common cold is highly controversial and is probably of negligible benefit. 6. Vit C will prevent scurvy based on both experimental proof and 100% response rate in human clinical trials. In summary, pertaining to this study, Vit C most likely does lead to an increase incidence of kidney stones in susceptible populations of people.
Linus died of cancer.
Vit C kidney stone connection has been around for a few decades.
With that being said, I've read that baking soda will also help prevent and disolve existing kidney stones........
Give this man the cigar.
I will name them and raise them and homeschool and everything.
Good comment. If you are male, I would suggest you avoid the iron supplement.
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