Effect of high dose vitamin C

High dose (800 mg/day) vitamin C (controlled release) had produced good effects in me before starting 5-HTP and DL-phenylalanine supplementation.

Positive effects:

1. Increased focus and concentration - can stick to the chair until I finish the work
   
2. Increased mental energy - sustained mental energy until I finish the work 3-4 hours at a stretch.
3. Increased my music listening - made me to hear deep bass beats and sharp notes clearly. I could enjoy music (I observed this effect, when I am taking geriforte, magnesium, glycine, taurine and bioflavanoids along with vitamin c 500mg 2 times daily)
   

Negative effects:

1. Little worsening of my stuttering sometimes when I started taking 5-HTP and DL-phenylalanine supplementation.
2. Unsteadiness while walking (I observed this effect, when I am taking geriforte, magnesium, glycine, taurine and bioflavanoids along with vitamin C 500mg 2 times daily). This unsteadiness could be due to vertigo. I remember when I was taking 800 mg/day controlled release tablets of vitamin C buffered tablets, my unsteadiness worsened gradually and after some time it stopped completely (I could sense some fluid coming out of my left ear and after that my unsteadiness went away).

The research literature indicates that high doses of ascorbic acid may act as a neuromodulator in the brain. It may increase the biosynthesis of norepinephrine. It may act as a dopamine antagonist (block amphetamine induced effects and potentiate haloperidol induced effects). It may potentiate the dopamine's ability to inhibit prolactin release. Also, it may increase glutamate transmission.

References:

1. J Neurochem. 1986 Mar;46(3):939-45.
   Stimulatory effect of ascorbic acid on norepinephrine biosynthesis in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal medullary chromaffin cells.
   Morita K, Levine M, Pollard HB.
2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Feb 15;97(4):1891-6.
   Ascorbic acid acts as an inhibitory transmitter in the hypothalamus to inhibit stimulated luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone release by scavenging nitric oxide.
   Karanth S, Yu WH, Walczewska A, Mastronardi C, McCann SM.
3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Sep 25;98(20):11783-8. Epub 2001 Sep 18.
   Ascorbic acid stimulates gonadotropin release by autocrine action by means of NO.
   Karanth S, Yu WH, Walczewska A, Mastronardi CA, McCann SM.
4. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002 Jan;159(3):319-24. Epub 2001 Nov 20.

   A randomized controlled trial of high dose ascorbic acid for reduction of blood pressure, cortisol, and subjective responses to psychological stress.

   Brody S, Preut R, Schommer K, Schürmeyer TH.
   Center for psychomatic and Psychobiological Research, University of Trier, Trier, Germany. stuartbrody@hotmail.com
   RATIONALE: Physiological responses to stress are considered disruptive to health. High-dose ascorbic acid has reduced indices of stress in laboratory animals. METHODS: We conducted a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled 14-day trial of sustained-release ascorbic acid (60 healthy young adults; 3 x1000 mg/day Cetebe) and placebo (60 healthy young adults) for reduction of blood pressure, cortisol, and subjective response to acute psychological stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST, consisting of public speaking and mental arithmetic). Six subjects from each group were excluded. RESULTS: Compared to the placebo group, the ascorbic acid group had less systolic blood pressure (an increase of 23 versus 31 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure, and subjective stress responses to the TSST; and also had faster salivary cortisol recovery (but not smaller overall cortisol response). Cortisol response to 1 microg ACTH, and reported side-effects during the trial did not differ between groups. Plasma ascorbic acid level at the end of the trial but not pre-trial was associated with reduced stress reactivity of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and subjective stress, and with greater salivary cortisol recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with high-dose sustained-release ascorbic acid palliates blood pressure, cortisol, and subjective response to acute psychological stress. These effects are not attributable to modification of adrenal responsiveness.
   
   
   

   Lazzarini M, Salum C, Del Bel EA.

   Combined treatment of ascorbic acid or alpha-tocopherol with dopamine receptor antagonist or nitric oxide synthase inhibitor potentiates cataleptic effect in mice.

   Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 Aug;181(1):71-9. Epub 2005 Oct 15.