Choline, Inositol and Vitamin C

Choline

Choline is an important nutrient that plays a role in almost every bodily system. The important compounds acetylcholine and lecithin are derived from this B vitamin. Acetylcholine is believed to protect against certain types of age-related dementia.

Functions of Choline in your body

• Aids in metabolism of fats
• Allows movement and coordination
• Component of every cell membrane
• Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Precursor to acetylcholine (the main neurotransmitter involved with memory)
• Required for normal brain function

Diseases/disorders that can be treated with choline – Alzheimer’s disease, hepatitis, high cholesterol, liver disease and manic depression (bipolar disease).

Inositol

Inositol is part of the vitamin B complex. It helps synthesize phospholipids, which are essential to the digestion, absorption, and transportation of fats in the body. Sufficient amounts of inositol are vital for good health – both mental and physical.

Functions of Inositol in your body

• Can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Has a calming effect
• Helps form lecithin, an important antioxidant
• Helps keep arteries from hardening
• Improves quality of sleep
• Involved in augmenting effects of neurotransmitter release
• Involved with metabolizing fats and cholesterol in the arteries and liver
• Supports the metabolism of estrogen and progesterone
• Used to treat depression and panic disorders.

Symptoms of Inositol deficiency – anxiety, depression, difficulty falling asleep, fibroid tumors and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms

Vitamin C

Vitamin C must be consumed in food or supplements because it cannot by made by our bodies. This water-soluble vitamin is essential for many of your body’s system to function properly. The immune system, in particular, relies on vitamin C. Rutin, a bioflavonoid, inhibits the oxidation of this vitamin, making it more useful to the body.

If you are diabetic, you need to take vitamin C. This is because vitamin C and glucose enter your cells through the same pathways. Consequently, vitamin C will be competing with glucose to enter your cells – and glucose will win, leaving the cells deficient in vitamin C.

Functions of Vitamin C in your body

• Aids in the healing of wounds
• Aids in the synthesis of collagen
• Benefits immune system by increasing number of white blood cells and interferons (proteins that can fifth viruses and cancer)
• Decreases adrenal steroid production
• Decreases production of leukotrienes (which contribute to symptoms of allergic reactions)
• Decreases rate of gum disease
• Decreases rate of stomach cancer
• Decrease risk of heart disease
• Helps carnitine synthesis (which breaks down fatty acids and releases energy)
• Helps in the metabolism of tyrosine (an amino acid that synthesizes proteins)
• Helps regenerate vitamin E, glutathione, and uric acid
• Increases fertility
• Increases HDL (good) cholesterol
• Increases nitric oxide
• Enhances the body’s absorption of iron
• Involved in catecholamine synthesis (which prepares the body for activity or to handle stress)
• Involved in production of serotonin (a neurotransmitter involved in many important brain functions, including mood and appetite)
• Is a diuretic
• Is a powerful antioxidant
• Lowers blood pressure
• Lowers incidence of cataracts
• Lowers sorbitol levels, which can prevent cataracts
• Lowers triglycerides
• Needed for progesterone production
• Needed to maintain glutathione levels (which are very important for good health)
• Prevents formation of nitrosamines (compounds which can cause cancer)
• Prevents free radical damage of LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Prevents some forms of lung disease
• Reduces bruising
• Reduces damage (such as diabetes or stiffening tissues) due to glycation
• Reserves the energy-producing capacity of the mitochondria

Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency – bleeding gums, cardiovascular disease, easy bruising, fatigue, frequent infections, impaired wound healing, joint pain, loose teeth, scurvy and weight loss.

Causes of Vitamin C deficiency – aging, antibiotics, aspirin, birth control pills, cortisone, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high f ever, painkillers, smoking, stress and sulfa drugs

Symptoms of Toxicity

Doses of Vitamin C higher than 5,000 milligrams can be ingested, but may cause diarrhea. Mineral ascorbates and Ester-C are buffered forms of vitamin C that cause less diarrhea.

Vitamin C is water soluble and leaves the body quickly, so it should be taken twice a day. Therefore, you should take 500 to 2,500 milligrams of Vitamin C twice a day.

Side Effects and contraindications

Hemochromatosis occurs when the body accumulates excess iron. Vitamin C can increase this accumulation, so people with hemochromatosis should avoid taking extra vitamin C. If you have a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, do not have vitamin C given to you intravenously.

USANA Vitamins Proflavanol C100 employs USANA’s innovative Nutritional Hybrid Technology. USANA is among the first in the supplement world to use Nutritional Hybrid Technology.