The benefits of Vitamin C - Cataracts, Iron Deficiency, Gallbladder Disease, Asthma

Vitamin C and Cataracts
In its role as an antioxidant, vitamin C is believed to help protect against cataracts. Researchers at Tufts and Harvard universities studied nearly 250 women with no history of cataracts. Those who had been supplementing with vitamin C for at least 10 years had 77 percent fewer early-stage opacities and 83 percent fewer moderate opacities than women who did not supplement. Although there is much debate among the experts regarding how much vitamin C is necessary for this protective effect, 150 to 200 milligrams is the amount needed saturate eye tissues.

Vitamin C and Iron Deficiency
Vitamin C can increase iron absorption, which can be helpful for those with an iron deficiency, or for women, who generally have higher iron needs and low intakes. However, it can be a problem for men, who tend to take in too much iron. In fact, some researchers suspect that iron overload among men may contribute to heart disease and several types of cancer. Too much iron in the body may lead to oxidative reactions that can damage tissues and DNA. More research is needed in this area.

Vitamin C and Gallbladder Disease
A recent study indicates that women who don't get enough vitamin C may be at a greater risk for gallbladder disease. Gallstones are often formed when bile, a liquid formed by the liver to help break down cholesterol, preventing it from hardening into gallstones. These stones can grow as large as one inch across and cause severe abdominal pain. In some cases treatment involves removing the gallbladder altogether.

Gallstones affect many more women than men. This may be due, in part, to the fact that estrogen increases the concentration of cholesterol in bile - and most gallstones are made up of cholesterol. The findings from this latest study indicate that women who have higher blood levels of vitamin C and those who take vitamin C supplements have a lower risk of gallstones and gallbladder disease.

Vitamin C and Asthma
Vitamin C may help people with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) breathe more easily. In a well-controlled study from Israel, individuals with EIA were given a single dose of 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C one hour before exercising on a treadmill. The researchers found that ascorbic acid prevented or decreased the severity of wheezing attacks and lung discomfort in over half of the study participants. It appears that vitamin C may protect against damaging oxidants in the lung.