Vitamin C & Gas

[Guest guest]

Hi, Bee.

In taking a daily divided dose of 500 mg of vitamin C per day (250

morning and 250 mg evening), I get some pretty significant gas. If I

push C above this lower threshold, I seem to get some dizziness,

increased gas, and eventual need to have a bowel movement (diarrhea if

I go high enough).

These are known properties of vitamin C, but I am wondering about why

there is so much gas.

I know that you frown upon most of going to outside sources and

relying on their information, but it is a fact of my nature that I

can't help myself but explore all avenues of certain topics.

One source I read

(http://www.garynull.com/Documents/Arthritis/Vitamin_C_How_to_Use.htm)

notes the following regarding vitamin C and gas:

" If you try this procedure and find that your bowels emit a great deal

of gas to the point of discomfort as you increase daily dosages, then

you are one who has " gas-forming " microflora throughout your

intestines, such as, but not only as, Candidas albicans. The gas is

usually non-odorous carbon dioxide, and usually, a by-product of yeast

organisms, and others. This indicates a problem that should be handled

if you are to have good absorption of digested foods, and if you are

to successfully use the Cathcart technique. "

So, assuming this is accurate... is the yeast feeding/fermenting on

the ascorbic acid/vitamin C, or is this more of a die-off reaction?

My personal gut tells me that the candida and other gas-forming

microflora are feeding off the ascorbic acid, which is why I get so

much gas from higher levels of C (because they're creating gas as a

by-product).

But then I read a source like this...

http://www.electroherbalism.com/Naturopathy/Therapies/Supplements/Vitamins/Vitam\

inC/RonaonC.htm

" In general, Vitamin C is a weak acid. Candida, bacteria, fungi and

parasites are often killed off by high dose vitamin C and this

releases toxins into the system. Gas, headache, nausea and

lightheadedness sometimes results but this is just a sign of a

temporary cleansing or detoxification reaction. "

I am hoping you can provide your feedback on this topic... regarding

whether it is yeast food vs. a die-off cleansing reaction.

I'm confused, because I would really like to take C without a lot of

problems, and take more C than I am now, but it almost seems

impossible due to the seeming immunopathology I experience.

Thanks for your time and feedback in advance.

You're old friend,