C and AIDS

----------------------------------- 
--- Dr. Robert F. Cathcart, M.D. ---
--- Allergy, Environmental, and ---
----- Orthomolecular Medicine ----- 
------- Orthopedic Medicine -------
--- 127 Second Street,  Suite 4 ---
--- Los Altos,  California, USA ---
---- Telephone:   650-949-2822 ----
---- Fax:         650-949-5083 ----
-----------------------------------
Copyright (C), 1994 and prior years, Dr. Robert F. Cathcart.
Permission granted to distribute via  the internet  as long 
as material is distributed in its entirity and not modified.

Medical Hypotheses, 14(4):423-433, Aug 1984. 
 

VITAMIN C IN THE TREATMENT OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE
DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS)
Dr. Robert F. Cathcart III, MD
 
-ABSTRACT-

     My previous experience with the utilization of ascorbic acid
in the treatment of viral diseases led me to hypothesize that
ascorbate would be of value in the treatment of AIDS (acquired
immune deficiency syndrome).  Preliminary clinical evidence is
that massive doses of ascorbate (50-200 grams per 24 hours) can
suppress the symptoms of the disease and can markedly reduce the
tendency for secondary infections.  In combination with usual
treatments for the secondary infections, large doses of ascorbate
will often produce a clinical remission which shows every
evidence of being prolonged if treatment is continued.  This
clinical remission is achieved despite continuing laboratory
evidence of helper T-cell suppression.  There may be a complete
or partial destruction of the helper T-cells during an initial
infection that does not necessitate a continuing toxicity from
some source to maintain a permanent or prolonged helper T-cell
suppression.  However, it is possible ascorbate may prevent that
destruction if used adequately during that prodrome period. 
Emphasis is put upon the recognition and treatment of the
frequent intestinal parasites.  Food and chemical sensitivities
occur frequently in the AID syndrome and may aggravate symptoms
considered to be part of the AID syndrome.  A topical C-paste has
been found very effective in the treatment of herpes simplex and,
to a lesser extent, in the treatment of some Kaposi's lesions. 
Increasingly, clinical research on other methods of treating AIDS
is being "contaminated" by patients taking ascorbate. 

 
-INTRODUCTION-

     I had previously described that the amount of ascorbic acid
which can be tolerated orally by a patient without producing
diarrhea, increases somewhat proportionately to the toxicity of
his disease (1,2,3,4).  Among the roughly 80% of persons who
tolerate ascorbic acid very well, -bowel tolerance- will be
reached when in excess of 10 to 15 grams of ascorbic acid
dissolved in water is taken in 4 to 6 divided doses per 24 hours. 
The astonishing finding was that when that same person is acutely
ill with a mild cold, that tolerance may increase to
approximately 50 grams per 24 hours.  A severe cold can increase
tolerance to 100 grams; an influenza, even up to 150 grams; and
mononucleosis or viral pneumonias, to as much as 200 grams per 24
hours.  These higher doses may have to be divided as frequently
as hourly. 

     These large amounts of ascorbate are being drawn off the GI
tract at a rate sufficient to prevent significant amounts from
reaching the rectum and producing diarrhea.  Measurements of
ascorbate in urine, saliva, or serum indicate that if sufficient
doses of ascorbate are not given when a patient is ill, the body
level of vitamin C drops rapidly.  In such a case, there is not
enough vitamin C left in the body, particularly in the cells
directly involved by the disease, to guarantee all the known
housekeeping functions of the vitamin.  Those functions known to
be dependent on vitamin C, including several metabolic reactions
necessary for proper functioning of the immune system, are put at
risk of malfunctioning.  I call this condition -acute induced
scurvy.- 

 

-PREMIERE FREE RADICAL SCAVENGER-

     The reason ascorbate ameliorates so many conditions is that
it functions as the -premiere free radical scavenger- (5).  This
function is not because it is the most powerful free radical
scavenger, but because it is possible to saturate every cell of
the body with more molecules of ascorbate than any other free
radical scavenger.  The reason that it takes such massive doses
for optimal effect is because high concentrations of ascorbate
must be driven into the cells directly affected by the disease
process sufficient to neutralize all of the free radicals
produced by that process, and have some left over for vitamin C
housekeeping functions.  When a disease process involves free
radicals, that disease process is capable of being ameliorated by
massive doses of ascorbate.  In the case of many infectious
diseases, the relief from free radical suppression of the immune
system, allows for more effective attack on the pathogen by that
immune system. 

     -Note: this premiere free radical scavenger function has
little to do with nutrition but is a pharmacologic effect of
ascorbate when utilized in unnatural amounts for humans.- 

     Actually, the complete neutralization of free radicals
requires several steps involving other substances, e.g.
glutathione.  However clinically, the most frequent limiting
factor in the reduction of free radicals is ascorbate.  In
certain conditions such as chemical allergies, certain other
limiting factors may become critically important, e.g. selenium
and glutathione.  Some have worried that a buildup of
dehydroascorbate would be toxic in certain of these conditions. 
Clinically, this consideration has not created a problem when
very large doses of ascorbate are used.  Perhaps it is the high
ratio of ascorbate to dehydroascorbate, I am careful to maintain
in these patients, that protects against any temporarily
accumulating dehydroascorbate.  Further, I should like to point
out that the dehydroascorbate formed should not be as toxic as
that free radical the ascorbate reduces as it itself is oxidized
into dehydroascorbate. 

     In a way, it is unfortunate that this free radical scavenger
and vitamin C are the same substance.  When ascorbate is
destroyed in the process of destroying free radicals, the vitamin
C stores, particularly in the cells directly involved in the
disease process, are so depleted as to cause disorders of known
housekeeping functions of vitamin C. 

     It is certain that AIDS causes this depletion.  The sicker
the patient is, the more ascorbate will be destroyed by the
disease process.  This depletion certainly contributes to the
terminal events and probably plays a key role in the increased
susceptibility of AIDS patients to various pathogens. 

-ASCORBATE VS. AN AIDS SUPPRESSOR FACTOR-

 

     A recent article describes the discovery of a -suppressor
factor- in AIDS patients.  This suppressor factor was found to be
neutralized in the test tube by concentrations of ascorbate
equivalent to that which would be achieved in a man who ingested
10 to 20 grams of ascorbate a day.  It was thought that this
amount was -"far too toxic"- to use in humans and that a less
toxic antioxidant should be found (6). 

     -Actually, 10 to 20 grams/24 hours of ascorbate is easily
tolerated and is not toxic- (1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14). 
Unfortunately, clinically I have shown that the AIDS disease
process destroys even larger amounts of ascorbate than the 10 to
20 grams because bowel tolerance is regularly increased to the
range of from 40 to 185 grams of C per 24 hours in the patient
who has moderate Kaposi's lesions and/or moderate
lymphadenopathy.  -Therefore, the 10 to 20 gram equivalent of
ascorbate in the test tube will not be adequate in vivo-. 

 
-PRELIMINARY STUDY-

     Because of the hypothesis that AIDS patients would benefit
from large doses of ascorbate, I began the actual treatment of
AIDS patients and have found that ascorbate is indeed very
valuable when used in conjunction with certain conventional
treatments. 

     The following preliminary recommendations are based partly
upon an anecdotal group of approximately 90 AIDS patients who
sought medical care from physicians but who also took high doses
of ascorbate on their own.  Additionally, it is based upon 12 of
my AIDS patients, 6 of whom were given intravenous ascorbate for
a short period of time.  Most of these patients have had
considerable improvement in their condition.  This improvement
seems somewhat proportional to the amount of ascorbate taken by
the patient relative to the severity of his disease.  If the
patient tolerates enough ascorbate to "neutralize the toxicity"
of his disease and if the secondary infections are treated; his
condition will go into remission.  Subjectively, symptoms
decrease and increase inversely with how closely the patient
titrates to bowel tolerance. 

     The only death has been in a patient who had previously
chemotherapy, interferon, and total body Xray therapy. 
Additionally, his veins were so destroyed by previous treatments
that intravenous vitamin C therapy could not be continued under
the existing circumstances. 

     Such a preliminary report of recommendations is justified
only because of the urgency of the problem addressed and because
in San Francisco and now New York, news of the ascorbate
treatment is spreading rapidly.  Ascorbate is being used by an
increasing percentage of the AIDS patient population but without
much guidance.  There have been many requests by physicians for
the treatment protocol. 

-ASCORBATE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR AIDS PATIENTS-


     The following protocol is recommended for AIDS and AIDS
related conditions including lymphadenopathy, idiopathic thrombo-
cytopenia purpura, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. 

     As predicted, AIDS patients are usually capable of ingesting
large doses of ascorbate.  It is desirable that the amount of
ascorbate taken orally be maximized.  Patients are -titrated to
bowel tolerance- (the amount that almost, but not quite, causes
diarrhea).  A -balanced ascorbate- mixture is utilized which is
made up of a mixture of approximately 25% buffered ascorbate
salts (calcium, magnesium, and potassium ascorbate) and 75%
ascorbic acid.  This mixture is dissolved in a small amount of
water and taken at least every hour.  The purpose of the frequent
doses and this balanced mixture is to maximize the amount of
ascorbate tolerated without producing diarrhea.  Patients are
permitted to vary the percentage of ascorbate salts to straight
ascorbic acid according to taste.  The usual amount tolerated
initially is between 40 and 100 grams per 24 hours.  -Doses in
excess of 100 grams per 24 hours may be necessary with secondary
bacterial and viral infections-.  As the patient's condition
improves, bowel tolerance will decrease. 

     When intravenous ascorbate is found necessary because the
toxicity of the condition exceeds the ability of the patient to
take adequate amounts of ascorbate to scavenge all of the free
radicals created by the primary AIDS infection and the various
secondary infections, the following intravenous solutions should
be utilized.  Sodium ascorbate buffered to a pH 7.4 and without
preservatives is added to sterile water in a concentration of 60
grams per 500 cc.  This concentration is twice the concentration
I have recommended before because it is well tolerated in young
males with large veins.  Patients with small veins may be best
treated with solutions of 60 grams per liter.  The time of the
infusions should be over at least a 3 hour period, preferably
longer.  As much as daily administration of 3 bottles, 180 grams
per 24 hours, may be necessary in acutely ill patients, e.g.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, disseminated herpes, disseminated
cytomegalovirus, and atypical pneumonia.  Enough ascorbate should
be administered to detoxify the patient regardless of the amount
needed.  Additionally, oral doses of ascorbate should be taken
simultaneously with the intravenous ascorbate.  -Do not let the
patients become lazy and discontinue bowel tolerance doses of
ascorbate while the intravenous ascorbate is being administered-. 

 

-INTESTINAL PARASITES-
 

     If the AIDS patient has intestinal parasites, he must be
treated for them.  There is a very high percentage of male homo-
sexuals infected with intestinal parasites.  These intestinal
parasites are themselves very immunosuppressive.  The prognosis
for an AIDS patient is greatly enhanced by proper treatment of
these parasites.  -Entamoeba histolytica-, especially, and
-Giardia lamblia- must be treated.  Intestinal parasites,
ordinarily considered -non-pathogens-, should be treated.  If
negative, repeated stool examinations for ova and parasites
should be taken if there is the slightest clinical sign of
intestinal parasite infection.  Samples should be fresh, not over
2 hours old.  Laxatives may increase chances of discovering the
parasites.  Additional samples may have to be taken through a
sigmoidoscope if other specimens are negative for ova and
parasites.  With treatment, Herxheimer's reactions should be
expected frequently.  Symptoms, including Kaposi's lesions, may
be exacerbated, despite the ascorbate, during treatment for
intestinal parasites. 

 
-CANDIDA ALBICANS-

 

     Candida should be sought and treated.  It should be
emphasized to patients that they owe it to themselves and society
to treat the Candida consistently because of the possibility of
breeding resistant strains.  The possibility of candida in the
gut, esophagus, mouth, sinuses, skin, etc. should be considered. 
In patients who clinically appear to have Candida but in whom
Candida cannot be cultured, sensitivities to Candida should be
suspected and treatment of especially the bowel should be
considered.  Herxheimer's reactions, when antibiotics against
Candida are employed, should be considered one indication that
Candida is a problem.  In these sensitive patients, foods and
vitamins containing yeasts should be avoided.  Lactobacillus in
large amounts should be fed to these patients in an attempt to
normalize bowel flora.  Sugar and refined carbohydrates should be
avoided because Candida thrives on them. 

     There is a high incidence of food and chemical sensitivities
associated with Candida sensitivities (15,16,17) and Candida must
be suspected whenever such sensitivities are discovered. 


-FOOD AND CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES-

     Food and chemical sensitivities, both IgE mediated allergies
and enzymatic deficiency allergies (EDAS), are common because of
the disorders of the immune system and the severe stress imposed
by the AID syndrome.  This increased incidence of sensitivities
may be associated with Candida, as discussed above, but may also
be a result of the AIDS infection.  Rashes, edema, phlebitis,
etc. caused by corn, yeast (including yeast containing vitamins),
molds, house gas, automobile exhaust, certain herbal formulas,
cosmetics, formaldehyde, insecticides, paints, glues, and
cigarette smoke have all been observed in my small group of
patients.  Conditions such as Kaposi's lesions, lymphadenopathy
and probably idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, conditions
which would otherwise be considered just part of the AID syndrome
or AIDS related, have been seen to be aggravated by food and
chemical sensitivities.  These sensitivities should be
anticipated and offending substances should be removed from the
patient's diet and environment.  Ascorbate may or may not block
these sensitivities significantly; however, ascorbate may
decrease the intensity and duration of the reaction in such a way
as to make clinical discovery of the offending substance easier. 

     This increased incidence of food and chemical sensitivities
is very important to understand because apparent adverse
reactions to vitamin C may occur.  These reactions are almost
never due to the ascorbate itself.  Most ascorbate is made from
corn.  Minute amounts of chemicals used in the manufacture of
ascorbate may remain.  Residuals of these substances are almost
invariably the cause of the sensitivity reactions.  Ascorbates
made from sego palm or from tapioca and which presumably are
manufactured with some different chemicals, are often tolerated. 
Different brands should be tried.  It is almost always possible
to find some ascorbate that is tolerated.  This sensitivity
problem is very important to deal with because patients
frequently feel their life depends on taking adequate amounts of
ascorbate and they may be correct in this feeling. 

     Many times gastrointestinal discomfort and excessive gas can
be alleviated by changing to the sego palm ascorbate or changing
brands of ascorbate.   

 

-OTHER CONSIDERATIONS-

     Bacterial infections should be treated with appropriate
antibiotics but large amounts of lactobacillus should be
administered with foods if there is the slightest tendency to
Candida infections or sensitivities.  Ascorbate administration
should be intensified during treatment for bacterial infections. 
Intravenous ascorbate may be necessary. 

     Viral infections should be treated with intensification of
the ascorbate treatment.  Intravenous ascorbate may become
necessary. 

Immunosuppressive therapy should not be utilized.

     Sugar and processed foods, foods with chemicals,
recreational drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. should be avoided. 
Obvious nutritional deficits should be sought and corrected. 
Additional supplimentation with especially zinc and selenium may
be helpful. 

     All sharing of body fluids and fecal material should stop
(18).  Repeated exposures, not only to possible AIDS infection,
but to the secondary infections, especially intestinal parasites
and Candida should be avoided. 



-HELPER/SUPPRESSOR CELL RATIO-
 

     With this protocol, it may be anticipated that a large
percentage of patients will slowly go into an extended clinical
remission.  Patients must be on guard to sense any impending
infection, colds, etc.  The patient should begin the additional
large frequent doses of ascorbate within minutes.  At the dose
levels that have been possible under circumstances imposed, a
slow improvement of the total number of T-lymphocytes may occur
but helper/suppressor cell ratios may remain suppressed.  It
appears that ascorbate may assist the immune system, but that in
addition, there are mechanisms whereby ascorbate acts against
pathogens, especially viruses and bacteria by mechanisms which do
not depend on the T-cells.  For this reason, I would suggest
using the ascorbate portion of this protocol on children who have
to be permanently isolated from the slightest exposure to
infections (bubble babies). 

 

-MONITORING VALUE OF ASCORBATE "BURN"-

     Roughly to the degree that a patient clinically perceives
himself to feel toxic (the amount of malaise, fever, pain, how
swollen the lymph nodes, how much anxiety, etc.), the more
ascorbic acid can be tolerated orally without it producing
diarrhea.  The amount tolerated becomes a rough measurement of
something that represents the immediate toxicity of the
condition.  I use the expression "100 gram cold" to mean that at
the peak of the cold a patient tolerated 100 grams per 24 hours
of ascorbic acid without diarrhea.  In cases where I am not sure
what is causing an increased tolerance or if a person is multiply
ill with several secondary infections, I refer to the processes
going on which are using up the ascorbate as the "-burn-."  Note
that the amount of ascorbic acid tolerated is only a good measure
of this burn if it is the amount determined by titrating to
"true" bowel tolerance, i.e., diarrhea caused by ascorbic acid in
a patient who otherwise tolerates ascorbate well; not limits set
by "too much gas", "don't like the taste", "stomach too acid",
etc. 

     The amount of this burn has some practical and prognostic
values; e.g., a patient with a burn much over 25-30 grams almost
inevitably has something the matter with him and a thorough
diagnostic workup is indicated.  A lover of one of the AIDS
patients had a burn of 100 grams.  It was found that his
helper/suppressor T-cell ratio was 0.7 but he had no other sign
of disease.  Over a 6 month period, the burn has dropped to 25
grams.  AIDS has not been diagnosed in this patient but there is
good reason to suspect that he has a pre-AIDS condition.  The
AIDS patient himself has had his burn drop from 125 grams to 35
grams.  His lymphadenopathy has improved considerably. 

 

-AIDS POSSIBLY INVOLVING A PERMANENT OR PROLONGED LOSS
OF T-HELPER CELLS-
      

     One patient who managed to eliminate all signs of Kaposi's
lesions while taking ascorbic acid had had his burn down to 15
grams a day for 6 months despite the helper/supressor T-cell
ratio remaining at 0.2.  There had been some slight increase in
the absolute number of helper and suppressor cells. Previously
detected shedding of CMV (cytomegalovirus) had apparently
stopped.  This patient had 3 Kaposi's lesions (diagnosed as
Kaposi's sarcoma on biopsy) recur on the right foot following a
cold, herpes simplex, and influenza, all within a 2 month period. 
The burn markedly increased, peaking at 185 grams per 24 hours. 
In 2 weeks time, the patient had managed to eliminate all signs
of the lesions on the foot.  The ascorbate burn slowly has
lessened; now 2 months later, the burn is at 25 grams and
decreasing. 

     This case, plus the previous two cases, strongly suggest
that the basic AIDS infection, probably caused by a virus, is no
longer active in these cases and that subsequent ascorbate burns
and various later manifestations of the AID syndrome are caused
by secondary and opportunistic infections.  One is reminded of
the permanent damage of certain viral infections in association
with certain predisposing factors initiating an immune response
to the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans and causing
juvenile-onset diabetes (19). 

 

-ASCORBATE AND THE POSSIBLE PREVENTION OF AIDS-
 

     Morishige has demonstrated the effectiveness of ascorbate in
preventing hepatitis B from blood transfusions (20).  A
similarity exists between AIDS and hepatitis B.  It has been my
experience that patients treated with large doses of ascorbate
during the acute phase of hepatitis will not develop chronic
hepatitis.  My experience with herpes simplex has been the same. 
Although ascorbate is helpful to a degree with chronic viral
infections, it is in the treatment of acute viral diseases that
it is most effective.   

     It is on this basis that I recommend that all persons who
fear exposure to AIDS and certainly anyone receiving blood trans-
fusions or other blood products which could in the most remote
way have been obtained from an AIDS carrier, be put on bowel
tolerance doses of ascorbate. 



-CONTROLLED STUDIES OF OTHER SUBSTANCES [may be] CONTAMINATED WITH
ASCORBATE-

     As a result of publications in periodicals concerned about
the AID syndrome, (21,22) a rapidly increasing number of AIDS
patients in the San Francisco Bay Area are taking large doses of
ascorbate.  The same practice is starting in New York and
elsewhere.  I would suggest that physicians conducting controlled
experiments on interferon, and shortly with interleukin 2, be
sensitive to the fact that their patients are, and will be con-
taminating the experiments with massive doses of ascorbate. 
Statistical analysis of the results of such trials will probably
be valueless.  Ascorbate has been contaminating cancer treatment
studies for some time as a result of orthomolecular literature
(23,24,25).  I estimate that a significant increasing percentage
of cancer patients in California and other parts of the world are
taking massive doses of ascorbate.  Most of these patients are
hiding this fact from their oncologist.   

 
-BROADER PROBLEMS-

     The AID syndrome has not only become a major threat to the
special groups ordinarily affected but threatens to spread at
least to some extent into other groups.  The increasingly large
number of persons infected by the disease increases the
possibility of mutations which could alter the routes of
infection.  Even without this possibility occurring, the large
population of immune suppressed persons comprises a major health
hazard because of the large pools of secondary infectious
diseases generated.  The large, growing pool of intestinal
parasites, heretofore present in the western world in only small
numbers, is one example of that problem. 

 

-POSSIBLE ELIMINATION OF THE AID SYNDROME-

     Practical considerations (lack of money and lack of hospital
facilities) have prevented me from administering the doses of
ascorbate which I think might -possibly- eliminate the probable
viral infection initiating the AID syndrome.  I suggest that the
helper/suppressor T-cell ratios should be carefully monitored
while at least 180 grams/24 hours of ascorbate is administered
intravenously.  At the same time bowel tolerance doses of
ascorbate should be taken orally.  This program should be
followed over an extended period of time (minimum 2 weeks) to
find out if there is any direct effect on the process causing the
AIDS. 

     I have preliminary evidence in one patient in which the
above program was tried that while the secondary problems were
markedly suppressed by the ascorbate (7 lbs, 11 oz in 14 days)
that the basic AIDS condition was not reversed.  This case plus
the cases implying the permanent or prolonged suppression of the
immune system make it essential to treat the prodrome stages of
AIDS with ascorbate. 

     If there is not a complete elimination of the basic AIDS
process, bowel tolerance doses of ascorbate and the rest of the
described protocol will probably have to be maintained for life.  

     My experience (1,2,3,4), and experience of other researchers
(10,11,12,13,14,20,26,27) is that acute self limiting viral
diseases can be reliably cured with massive doses of ascorbate. 
Viral diseases that have become chronic seem to involve
pathologic processes which are not quite as susceptible to
ascorbate but which nevertheless are ameliorated, sometimes
seemingly cured.  It is hoped that funds will be made available
for such a project. 

C-PASTE


     Herpes simplex lesions can usually be made to more rapidly
heal or be prevented at the outset by increasing the doses of
oral ascorbic acid and the application of C-paste.  C-paste is
made with either ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate and water
applied directly to the skin and covered with a bandage. 
Frequently, one application will suffice for herpes.  Care should
be taken not to irritate intact skin too much in sensitive skin
areas, especially under adhesive bandages.  Frequently
applications to intact skin where the patient perceives an
outbreak is about to occur will completely abort the attack. 
Several applications may be necessary to penetrate through the
intact skin. 

     C-paste has also been useful on early Kaposi's lesions. It
should be applied up to 4 times a day.  Alternatively, soaks of
20% sodium ascorbate or ascorbic acid (1 gram per 5 cc of water)
for 15-30 minutes, 4 times a day may be helpful.  Be careful not
to irritate the skin too much even with these solutions.  Keep
ascorbic acid out of the eyes; a 20% -sodium ascorbate- solution
can be used in the eyes with care. 

 

-KAPOSI'S LESIONS-
 

     Kaposi's lesions have been described as behaving like an
infectious disease closely associated with CMV (28).  With
ascorbate treatment, Kaposi's lesions may be made to go away if
the patient takes enough ascorbate and the patient is not
burdened by multiple opportunistic infections.  In patients with
multiple problems, there tend to be outbreaks of the Kaposi's
lesions associated with colds, parasites, herpes, or emotional
stress and particularly associated with a letdown in the amount
of C taken.  Even in patients with multiple lesions, individual
lesions can frequently be seen to lose color and flatten with the
local application of ascorbate soaks. 

 
 
-CONCLUSIONS-
 

     Ascorbate does ameliorate the AID syndrome to a significant
degree.  I want to emphsize, however, the absolute necessity of
massive doses. Additionally, one must avoid and treat oppor-
tunistic infections.  Multiple infections, lack of understanding
in the use of C, or inability to tolerate the doses prescribed,
all result in a poor prognosis.  The success of treatments with
ascorbate entirely depends on consistent administration of C
sufficient to neutralize the free radicals produced by the
various diseases. 

     The use of ascorbate is increasing in the male homosexual
population of the San Francisco Bay Area and spreading across the
United States.  It will be very interesting to see if there are
any otherwise unexplained decreases in the rate of increase of
new cases of AIDS and associated deaths starting in San
Francisco.  The use of C is contaminating otherwise thought to be
controlled studies of other therapeutic measures.  Other
considerations plus the potential application of ascorbate as
part of the treatment of all infectious diseases, makes the
clarification of the usefulness of ascorbate to the medical
profession essential. 


-CAUTION-

 

     If these oral solutions are used over a long period of time,
care should be taken to keep them off the teeth by using a straw
in order to avoid enamel damage.  Sickle cell anemia and G-6-PD
deficiencies should be ruled out where indicated.  In any
condition requiring prolonged administration of large amounts of
any nutrient, I would advise seeking the advice of a specialist
to avoid induced deficiencies in other nutrients. 



Dr. Cathcart Bibliography

-REFERENCES-
 
1.  Cathcart, R.F. Clinical trial of vitamin C. Letter to the
Editor, Medical Tribune, June 25, 1975. 
 
*2.  Cathcart, R.F. The method of determining proper doses of
vitamin C for the treatment of disease by titrating to bowel
tolerance. J. Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 10:125-132, 1981. 
 

*3.  Cathcart, R.F. Vitamin C: titrating to bowel tolerance,
anascorbemia, and acute induced scurvy. Medical Hypotheses,
7:1359-1376, 1981.
 
*4.  Cathcart, R.F. C-vitaminbehandling till tarmintolerans vid
infektioner och allergi. Biologisk Medicin, 3:6-8, 1983. 
 
*5.  Cathcart, R.F. Vitamin C function in AIDS. Current Opinion,
Medical Tribune, July 13, 1983. 
 
*6.  Laurence J. The mystery factor that's destroying immunity.
American Health, May/June 1983. 
 
*7.  Stone, I. The Healing Factor: Vitamin C Against Disease.
Grosset and Dunlap, New York, 1972. 
 
*8.  Pauling, L. Vitamin C and the Common Cold. W.H. Freeman and
Company, San Francisco, 1970. 
 
*9.  Pauling, L. Vitamin C, the Common Cold, and the Flu. W.H.
Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 1976. 
 
*10. Klenner FR. Virus pneumonia and its treatment with vitamin
C.  J. South. Med. and Surg., 110:60-63, 1948 
 
*11. Klenner FR. The treatment of poliomyelitis and other virus
diseases with vitamin C.  J. South. Med. and Surg., 111:210-214,
1949. 
 
*12. Klenner, F.R. Massive doses of vitamin C and the virus
diseases.  J. South. Med. and Surg., 113:101-107, 1951. 
 
*13. Klenner, F.R. Observations on the dose and administration of
ascorbic acid when employed beyond the range of a vitamin in
human pathology. J. App. Nutr., 23:61-88, 1971. 
 
*14. Kalokerinos, A.  Every Second Child.  Keats Publishing,
Inc., New Canaan, 1981 
 
*15. Truss, C.O.  Tissue injury induced by Candida Albicans:
Mental and neurologic manifestations.  J. Orthomolecular
Psychiatry, 7,1:17-37, 1978. 
 
*16. Truss, C.O.  Restoration of immunologic competence to
Candida Albicans.  J. Orthomolecular Psychiatry. 9,4:287-301,
1980. 
 
*17. Truss, C.O.  The role of Candida Albicans in human illness. 
J. Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 10,4:228-238, 1981. 
 
*18. Mavligit, G.M., Talpaz, M., Hsia, F.T., Wong, W., Lichtiger,
B., Mansell, W.A., Mumford, D.M.  Chronic Immune stimulation by
sperm alloantigens.  JAMA, 251:237-241, 1984. 
 
*19. Notkins, A.L.  The Causes of Diabetes.  Scientific American,
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*20. Murata, A. Virucidal activity of vitamin C: Vitamin C for
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*21. Cathcart, R.F.  Vitamin C function in AIDS.  Bay Area
Reporter, p.18, Nov 17, 1983. 
 
*22. Cathcart, R.F.  Vitamin C treatment protocol for AIDS, Bay
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*23. Cameron, E. and Pauling, L. Supplemental ascorbate in the
supportive treatment of cancer: Prolongation of survival times in
terminal human cancer. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 73:3685-3689,
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*24. Cameron, E. and Pauling, L. The orthomolecular treatment of
cancer: Reevaluation of prolongation of survival times in
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*25. Cameron, E. and Pauling, L.  Cancer and Vitamin C. The Linus
Pauling Institute for Science and Medicine, Menlo Park, 1979. 
 
*26. Belfield, W.O., Vitamin C in treatment of canine and feline
distemper complex.  Veterinary Medicine/Small Animal Clinician,
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*27. Belfield, W.O. and Zucker, M. How to Have a Healthier Dog. 
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*28. Siegal, F.P. and Siegal, M.  AIDS:The Medical Mystery. 
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Content (C) 1995 and prior years, Dr. Robert F. Cathcart.
Dr. Cathcart
650-949-2822

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