Linus Pauling PhD
“An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its
opponents. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is
familiar with the idea from the beginning.”
Max Planck
This paper is dedicated to the young physicians and the medical students of this world.
Abstract
Until now therapeutic concepts for human cardiovascular disease (CVD) were targeting individual
pathomechanisms or specific risk factors. On the basis of genetic, metabolic, evolutionary, and clinical
evidence we present here a unified pathogenetic and therapeutic approach. Ascorbate deficiency is the
precondition and common denominator of human CVD. Ascorbate deficiency is the result of the inability of
man to synthesize ascorbate endogenously in combination with insufficient dietary intake. The invariable
morphological consequences of chronic ascorbate deficiency in the vascular wall are the loosening of the
connective tissue and the loss of the endothelial barrier function. Thus human CVD is a form of pre-scurvy.
The multitude of pathomechanisms that lead to the clinical manifestation of CVD are primarily defense
mechanisms aiming at the stabilization of the vascular wall. After the loss of endogenous ascorbate production
during the evolution of man these defense mechanisms became life-saving. They counteracted the fatal
consequences of scurvy and particularly of blood loss through the scorbutic vascular wall. These
countermeasures constitute a genetic and a metabolic level. The genetic level is characterized by the
evolutionary advantage of inherited features that lead to a thickening of the vascular wall, including a
multitude of inherited diseases. The metabolic level is characterized by the close connection of ascorbate with
metabolic regulatory systems that determine the risk profile for CVD in clinical cardiology today. The most
frequent mechanism is the deposition of lipoproteins, particularly lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], in the vascular wall.
With sustained ascorbate deficiency, the result of insufficient ascorbate uptake, these defense mechanisms
overshoot and lead to the development of CVD. Premature CVD is essentially unknown in all animal species
that produce high amounts of ascorbate endogenously. In humans, unable to produce endogenous ascorbate,
CVD became one of the most frequent diseases. The genetic mutation that rendered all human beings today
dependent on dietary ascorbate is the universal underlying cause of CVD. Optimum dietary ascorbate intake
will correct this common genetic defect and prevent its deleterious consequences. Clinical confirmation of this
theory should largely abolish CVD as a cause for mortality in this generation and future generations of
mankind.
Key words
Ascorbate, vitamin C, cardiovascular disease, lipoprotein(a), hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia,
hypoalphalipoproteinemia, diabetes, homocystinuria.
Introduction
We have recently presented ascorbate deficiency as the primary cause of human CVD. We proposed that the
most frequent pathomechanism leading to the development of atherosclerotic plaques is the deposition of Lp(a)
and fibrinogen/fibrin in the ascorbate-deficient vascular wall.1,2 In the course of this work we discovered that
virtually every pathomechanism for human CVD known today can be induced by ascorbate deficiency. Beside
the deposition of Lp(a) this includes such seemingly unrelated processes as foam cell formation and decreased
reverse-cholesterol transfer, and also peripheral angiopathies in diabetic or homocystinuric patients. We did not
accept this observation as a coincidence. Consequently we proposed that ascorbate deficiency is the
precondition as well as a common denominator of human CVD. This far-reaching conclusion deserves an
explanation; it is presented in this paper. We suggest that the direct connection of ascorbate deficiency with the
development of CVD is the result of extraordinary pressure during the evolution of man. After the loss of the
endogenous ascorbate production in our ancestors, severe blood-loss through the scorbutic vascular wall
became a life-threatening condition. The resulting evolutionary pressure favored genetic and metabolic
mechanisms predisposing to CVD.
The Loss of Endogenous Ascorbate Production in the Ancestor of Man
With few exceptions all animals synthesize their own ascorbate by conversion from glucose. In this way they
manufacture a daily amount of ascorbate that varies between about 1 gram and 20 grams, when compared to
the human body weight. About 40 million years ago the ancestor of man lost the ability for endogenous
ascorbate production. This was the result of a mutation of the gene encoding for the enzyme L-gulono-g-lactone
oxidase (GLO), a key enzyme in the conversion of glucose to ascorbate. As a result of this mutation all
descendants became dependent on dietary ascorbate intake.
The precondition for the mutation of the GLO gene was a sufficient supply of dietary ascorbate. Our ancestors
at that time lived in tropical regions. Their diet consisted primarily of fruits and other forms of plant nutrition
that provided a daily dietary ascorbate supply in the range of several hundred milligrams to several grams per
day. When our ancestors left this habitat to settle in other regions of the world the availability of dietary
ascorbate dropped considerably and they became prone to scurvy.
Fatal Blood Loss Through the Scorbutic Vascular Wall – An Extraordinary Challenge to the Evolutionary
Survival of Man
Scurvy is a fatal disease. It is characterized by structural and metabolic impairment of the human body,
particularly by the destabilization of the connective tissue. Ascorbate is essential for an optimum production
and hydroxylation of collagen and elastin, key constituents of the extracellular matrix. Ascorbate depletion thus
leads to a destabilization of the connective tissue throughout the body. One of the first clinical signs of scurvy
is perivascular bleeding. The explanation is obvious: Nowhere in the body does there exist a higher pressure
difference than in the circulatory system, particularly across the vascular wall. The vascular system is the first
site where the underlying destabilization of the connective tissue induced by ascorbate deficiency is unmasked,
leading to the penetration of blood through the permeable vascular wall. The most vulnerable sites are the
proximal arteries, where the systolic blood pressure is particularly high. The increasing permeability of the
vascular wall in scurvy leads to petechiae and ultimately hemorrhagic blood loss.
Scurvy and scorbutic blood loss decimated the ship crews in earlier centuries within months. It is thus
conceivable that during the evolution of man periods of prolonged ascorbate deficiency led to a great death toll.
The mortality from scurvy must have been particularly high during the thousands of years the ice ages lasted
and in other extreme conditions, when the dietary ascorbate supply approximated zero. We therefore propose
that after the loss of endogenous ascorbate production in our ancestors, scurvy became one of the greatest
threats to the evolutionary survival of man. By hemorrhagic blood loss through the scorbutic vascular wall our
ancestors in many regions may have virtually been brought close to extinction.
The morphologic changes in the vascular wall induced by ascorbate deficiency are well characterized: the
loosening of the connective tissue and the loss of the endothelial barrier function. The extraordinary pressure by
fatal blood loss through the scorbutic vascular wall favored genetic and metabolic countermeasures attenuating
increased vascular permeability.
Ascorbate Deficiency and Genetic Countermeasures
The genetic countermeasures are characterized by an evolutionary advantage of genetic features and include
inherited disorders that are associated with atherosclerosis and CVD. With sufficient ascorbate supply these
disorders stay latent. In ascorbate deficiency, however, they become unmasked, leading to an increased
deposition of plasma constituents in the vascular wall and other mechanisms that thicken the vascular wall.
This thickening of the vascular wall is a defense measure compensating for the impaired vascular wall that had
become destabilized by ascorbate deficiency. With prolonged insufficient ascorbate intake in the diet these
defense mechanisms overshoot and CVD develops.
The most frequent mechanism to counteract the increased permeability of the ascorbate-deficient vascular wall
became the deposition of lipoproteins and lipids in the vessel wall. Another group of proteins that generally
accumulate at sites of tissue transformation and repair are adhesive proteins such as fibronectin, fibrinogen,
and particularly apo(a). It is therefore no surprise that Lp(a), a combination of the adhesive protein apo(a) with
a low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle, became the most frequent genetic feature counteracting ascorbate
deficiency.1 Beside lipoproteins, certain metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and homocystinuria, are also
associated with the development of CVD. Despite differences in the underlying pathomechanism, all these
mechanisms share a common feature: they lead to a thickening of the vascular wall and thereby can counteract
the increased permeability in ascorbate deficiency.
In addition to these genetic disorders, the evolutionary pressure from scurvy also favored certain metabolic
countermeasures.
Ascorbate Deficiency and Metabolic Countermeasures
The metabolic countermeasures are characterized by the regulatory role of ascorbate for metabolic systems
determining the clinical risk profile for CVD. The common aim of these metabolic regulations is to decrease
the vascular permeability in ascorbate deficiency. Low ascorbate concentrations therefore induce
vasoconstriction and hemostasis and affect vascular wall metabolism in favor of atherosclerogenesis. Towards
this end ascorbate interacts with lipoproteins, coagulation factors, prostaglandins, nitric oxide, and second
messenger systems such as cyclic monophosphates (for review see 1, 3-5). It should be noted that ascorbate
can affect these regulatory levels in a multiple way. In lipoprotein metabolism low density lipoproteins (LDL),
Lp(a), and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) are inversely correlated with ascorbate concentrations,
whereas ascorbate and HDL levels are positively correlated. Similarly, in prostaglandin metabolism ascorbate
increases prostacyclin and prostaglandin E levels and decreases the thromboxane level. In general, ascorbate
deficiency induces vascular constriction and hemostatis, as well as cellular and extracellular defense measures
in the vascular wall.
In the following sections we shall discuss the role of ascorbate for frequent and well established
pathomechanisms of human CVD. In general, the inherited disorders described below are polygenic. Their
separate description, however, will allow the characterization of the role of ascorbate on the different genetic
and metabolic levels.
Apo(a) and Lp(a), the Most Effective and Most Frequent Countermeasure
After the loss of endogenous ascorbate production, apo(a) and Lp(a) were greatly favored by evolution. The
frequency of occurrence of elevated Lp(a) plasma levels in species that had lost the ability to synthesize
ascorbate is so great that we formulated the theory that apo(a) functions as a surrogate for ascorbate.6 There are
several genetically determined isoforms of apo(a). They differ in the number of kringle repeats and in their
molecular size.7 An inverse relation between the molecular size of apo(a) and the synthesis rate of Lp(a)
particles has been established. Individuals with the high molecular weight apo(a) isoform produce fewer Lp(a)
particles than those with the low apo(a) isoform. In most population studies the genetic pattern of high apo(a)
isoform/low Lp(a) plasma level was found to be the most advantageous and therefore most frequent pattern.
In ascorbate deficiency Lp(a) is selectively retained in the vascular wall. Apo(a) counteracts increased
permeability by compensating for collagen, by its binding to fibrin, as a proteinthiol antioxidant, and as an
inhibitor of plasmin-induced proteolysis (1). Moreover, as an adhesive protein apo(a) is effective in tissue-
repair processes (8). Chronic ascorbate deficiency leads to a sustained accumulation of Lp(a) in the vascular
wall. This leads to the development of atherosclerotic plaques and premature CVD, particularly in individuals
with genetically determined high plasma Lp(a) levels. Because of its association with apo(a), Lp(a) is the most
specific repair particle among all lipoproteins. Lp(a) is predominantly deposited at predisposition sites and it is
therefore found to be significantly correlated with coronary, cervical, and cerebral atherosclerosis but not with
peripheral vascular disease.
The mechanism by which ascorbate resupplementation prevents CVD in any condition is by maintaining the
integrity and stability of the vascular wall. In addition, ascorbate exerts in the individual a multitude of
metabolic effects that prevent the exacerbation of a possible genetic predisposition and the development of
CVD. If the predisposition is a genetic elevation of Lp(a) plasma levels the specific regulatory role of ascorbate
is the decrease of apo(a) synthesis in the liver and thereby the decrease of Lp(a) plasma levels. Moreover,
ascorbate decreases the retention of Lp(a) in the vascular wall by lowering fibrinogen synthesis and by
increasing the hydroxylation of lysine residues in vascular wall constituents, thereby reducing the affinity for
Lp(a) binding.1
In about half of the CVD patients the mechanism of Lp(a) deposition contributes significantly to the
development of atherosclerotic plaques. Other lipoprotein disorders are also frequently part of the polygenic
pattern predisposing the individual patient to CVD in the individual.
Other Lipoprotein Disorders Associated with CVD
In a large population study Goldstein et al. discussed three frequent lipid disorders, familial
hypercholesterolemia, familial hypertriglyceridemia, and familial combined hyperlipidemia.9 Ascorbate
deficiency unmasks these underlying genetic defects and leads to an increased plasma concentration of lipids
(e.g. cholesterol, triglycerides) and lipoproteins (e.g. LDL, VLDL) as well as to their deposition in the impaired
vascular wall. As with Lp(a), this deposition is a defense measure counteracting the increased permeability. It
should, however, be noted that the deposition of lipoproteins other than Lp(a) is a less specific defense
mechanism and frequently follows Lp(a) deposition. Again, these mechanisms function as a defense only for a
limited time. With sustained ascorbate deficiency the continued deposition of lipids and lipoproteins leads to
atherosclerotic plaque development and CVD. Some mechanisms will now be described in more detail.
Hypercholesterolemia,LDL-receptor defect
A multitude of genetic defects lead to an increased synthesis and/or a decreased catabolism of cholesterol or
LDL. A well characterized although rare defect is the LDL-receptor defect. Ascorbate deficiency unmasks these
inherited metabolic defects and leads to an increased plasma concentration of cholesterol-rich lipoproteins, e.g.
LDL, and their deposition in the vascular wall. Hypercholesterolemia increases the risk for premature CVD
primarily when combined with elevated plasma levels of Lp(a) or triglycerides.
The mechanisms by which ascorbate supplementation prevents the exacerbation of hypercholesterolemia and
related CVD include an increased catabolism of cholesterol. In particular, ascorbate is known to stimulate 7-a-
hydroxylase, a key enzyme in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and to increase the expression of LDL
receptors on the cell surface. Moreover, ascorbate is known to inhibit endogenous cholesterol synthesis as well
as oxidative modification of LDL (for review see 1).
Hertriglyceridemia,Type III hyperlipidemia
A variety of genetic disorders lead to the accumulation of triglycerides in the form of chylomicron remnants,
VLDL, and intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) in plasma. Ascorbate deficiency unmasks these underlying
genetic defects and the continued deposition of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the vascular wall leads to CVD
development. These triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are particularly subject to oxidative modification, cellular
lipoprotein uptake, and foam cell formation. In hypertriglyceridemia nonspecific foam-cell formation has been
observed in a variety of organs.10 Ascorbate-deficient foam cell formation, although a less specific repair
mechanism than the extracellular deposition of Lp(a), may have also conferred stability.
Ascorbate supplementation prevents the exacerbation of CVD associated with hypertriglyceridemia, Type III
hyperlipidemia, and related disorders by stimulating lipoprotein lipases and thereby enabling a normal
catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.11 Ascorbate prevents the oxidative modification of these
lipoproteins, their uptake by scavenger cells and foam cell formation. Moreover, we propose here that,
analogous to the LDL receptor, ascorbate also increases the expression of the receptors involved in the
metabolic clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, such as the chylomicron remnant receptor.
The degree of build-up of atherosclerotic plaques in patients with lipoprotein disorders is determined by the
rate of deposition of lipoproteins and by the rate of the removal of deposited lipids from the vascular wall. It is
therefore not surprising that ascorbate is also closely connected with this reverse pathway.
Hypoalphalipoproteinemia
Hypoalphalipoproteinemia is a frequent lipoprotein disorder characterized by a decreased synthesis of HDL
particles. HDL is part of the `reverse-cholesterol-transport’ pathway and is critical for the transport of
cholesterol and also other lipids from the body periphery to the liver. In ascorbate deficiency this genetic defect
is unmasked, resulting in decreased HDL levels and a decreased reverse transport of lipids from the vascular
wall to the liver. This mechanism is highly effective and the genetic disorder hypoalphalipoproteinemia was
greatly favored during evolution. With ascorbate supplementation HDL production increases,12 leading to an
increased uptake of lipids deposited in the vascular wall and to a decrease of the atherosclerotic lesion. A look
back in evolution underlines the importance of this mechanism. During the winter seasons, with low ascorbate
intake, our ancestors became dependent on protecting their vascular wall by the deposition of lipoproteins and
other constituents. During spring and summer seasons the ascorbate content in the diet increased significantly
and mechanisms were favored that decreased the vascular deposits under the protection of increased ascorbate
concentration in the vascular tissue. It is not unreasonable for us to propose that ascorbate can reduce fatty
deposits in the vascular wall within a relatively short time. In an earlier clinical study it was shown that 500
mg of dietary ascorbate per day can lead to a reduction of atherosclerotic deposits within 2 to 6 months.13
This concept, of course, also explains why heart attack and stroke occur today with a much higher frequency in
winter than during spring and summer, the seasons with increased ascorbate intake.
Other Inherited Metabolic Disorders Associated with CVD
Beside lipoprotein disorders many other inherited metabolic diseases are associated with CVD. Generally these
disorders lead to an increased concentration of plasma constituents that directly or indirectly damage the
integrity of the vascular wall. Consequently these diseases lead to peripheral angiopathies as observed in
diabetes, homocystinuria, sickle-cell anemia (the first molecular disease described,14 and many other genetic
disorders. Similar to lipoproteins the deposition of various plasma constituents as well as proliferative
thickening provided a certain stability for the ascorbate-deficient vascular wall. We illustrate this principle for
diabetic and homocystinuric angiopathy.
Diabetic Angiopathy
The pathomechanism in this case involves the structural similarity between glucose and ascorbate and the
competition of these two molecules for specific cell surface receptors.15,16 Elevated glucose levels prevent many
cellular systems in the human body, including endothelial cells, from optimum ascorbate uptake. Ascorbate
deficiency unmasks the underlying genetic disease, aggravates the imbalance between glucose and ascorbate,
decreases vascular ascorbate concentration, and thereby triggers diabetic angiopathy.
Ascorbate supplementation prevents diabetic angiopathy by optimizing the ascorbate concentration in the
vascular wall and also by lowering insulin requirement.17
Homocystinuric angiopathy
Homocystinuria is characterized by the accumulation of homocyst(e)ine and a variety of its metabolic
derivatives in the plasma, the tissues and the urine as the result of decreased homocysteine catabolism.18
Elevated plasma concentrations of homocyst(e)ine and its derivatives damage the endothelial cells throughout
the arterial and venous system. Thus homocystinuria is characterized by peripheral vascular disease and
thromboembolism. These clinical manifestations have been estimated to occur in 30 per cent of the patients
before the age of 20 and in 60 per cent of the patients before the age of 40.19
Ascorbate supplementation prevents homocystinuric angiopathy and other clinical complications of this disease
by increasing the rate of homocysteine catabolism.20
Thus, ascorbate deficiency unmasks a variety of individual genetic predispositions that lead to CVD in
different ways. These genetic disorders were conserved during evolution largely because of their association
with mechanisms that lead to the thickening of the vascular wall. Moreover, since ascorbate deficiency is the
underlying cause of these diseases, ascorbate supplementation is the universal therapy.
The Determining Principles of This Theory
The determining principles of this comprehensive theory are schematically summarized in Figures 1 to 3
(pages 13 to 15).
1. CVD is the direct consequence of the inability for endogenous ascorbate production in man in combination
with low dietary ascorbate intake.
2. Ascorbate deficiency leads to increased permeability of the vascular wall by the loss of the endothelial barrier
function and the loosening of the vascular connective tissue.
3. After the loss of endogenous ascorbate production scurvy and fatal blood loss through the scorbutic vascular
wall rendered our ancestors in danger of extinction. Under this evolutionary pressure over millions of years
genetic and metabolic countermeasures were favored that counteract the increased permeability of the vascular
wall.
4. The genetic level is characterized by the fact that inherited disorders associated with CVD became the most
frequent among all genetic predispositions. Among those predispositions lipid and lipoprotein disorders occur
particularly often.
5. The metabolic level is characterized by the direct relation between ascorbate and virtually all risk factors of
clinical cardiology today. Ascorbate deficiency leads to vasoconstriction and hemostasis and affects the
vascular wall metabolism in favor of atherosclerogenesis.
6. The genetic level can be further characterized. The more effective and specific a certain genetic feature
counteracted the increasing vascular permeability in scurvy, the more advantageous it became during
evolution and, generally, the more frequently this genetic feature occurs today.
7. The deposition of Lp(a) is the most effective, most specific, and therefore most frequent of these mechanisms.
Lp(a) is preferentially deposited at predisposition sites. In chronic ascorbate deficiency the accumulation of
Lp(a) leads to the localized development of atherosclerotic plaques and to myocardial infarction and stroke.
8. Another frequent inherited lipoprotein disorder is hypoalphalipoproteinemia. The frequency of this disorder
again reflects its usefulness during evolution. The metabolic upregulation of HDL synthesis by ascorbate
became an important mechanism to reverse and decrease existing lipid deposits in the vascular wall.
9. The vascular defense mechanisms associ-ated with most genetic disorders are nonspecific. These mechanisms
can aggra-vate the development of atherosclerotic plaques at predisposition sites. Other nonspecific
mechanisms lead to peripheral forms of atherosclerosis by causing a thickening of the vascular wall
throughout the arterial system. This peripheral form of vascular disease is characteristic for angiopathies
associated with Type III hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and many other inherited metabolic diseases.
10. Of particular advantage during evolution and therefore particularly frequent today are those genetic
features that protect the ascorbate-deficient vascular wall until the end of the reproduction age. By favoring
these disorders nature decided for the lesser of two evils: the death from CVD after the reproduction age rather
than death from scurvy at a much earlier age. This also explains the rapid increase of the CVD mortality
today from the 4th decade onwards.
11. After the loss of endogenous ascorbate production the genetic mutation rate in our ancestors increased
significantly.21 This was an additional precondition favoring the advantage not only of apo(a) and Lp(a) but
also of many other genetic counter-measures associated with CVD.
12. Genetic predispositions are characterized by the rate of ascorbate depletion in a multitude of metabolic
reactions specific for the genetic disorder.22 The overall rate of ascorbate depletion in an individual is largely
determined by the polygenic pattern of disorders. The earlier the ascorbate reserves in the body are depleted
without being resupplemented, the earlier CVD develops.
13. The genetic predispositions with the highest probability for early clinical manifestation require the highest
amount of ascorbate supplementation in the diet to prevent CVD development. The amount of ascorbate for
patients at high risk should be comparable to the amount of ascorbate our ancestors synthesized in their body
before they lost this ability: between 10,000 and 20,000 milligrams per day.
14. Optimum ascorbate supplementation prevents the development of CVD indepen-dently of the individual
predisposition or pathomechanism. Ascorbate reduces existing atherosclerotic deposits and thereby decreases
the risk for myocardial infarction and stroke. Moreover, ascorbate can prevent blindness and organ failure in
diabetic patients, thromboembolism in homocystinuric patients, and many other manifestations of CVD.
Conclusion
In this paper we present a unified theory of human CVD. This disease is the direct consequence of the inability
of man to synthesize ascorbate in combination with insufficient intake of ascorbate in the modern diet. Since
ascorbate deficiency is the common cause of human CVD, ascorbate supplementation is the universal
treatment for this disease. The available epidemiological and clinical evidence is reasonably convincing.
Further clinical confirmation of this theory should lead to the abolition of CVD as a cause of human mortality
for the present generation and future generations of mankind.
Acknowledgements
We thank Jolanta Walichiewicz for graphical assistance, Rosemary Babcock for library services, and Dorothy
Munro and Martha Best for secretarial assistance.
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Figure 1.
Ascorbate deficiency is the precondition and common denominator of human CVD. Ascorbate deficiency
invariably leads to an increased permeability of the vascular wall. The evolutionary pressure from fatal blood-
loss through scorbutic vascular wall over million of years favored genetic and metabolic countermeasures. The
genetic level (A) is characterized by an evolutionary advantage of genetic features predisposing to CVD. The
evolutionary pressure in favor of these predisposing genetic features was so great that CVD became one of
today’s most common diseases. The metabolic level (B) is characterized by the regulatory effect of ascorbate on
factors determining the clinical risk profile for CVD in cardiology today including lipoproteins, coagulation
factors, prostaglandins, and others. Ascorbate deficiency counteracts increased vascular permeability by
inducing vasoconstriction, hemostasis, and atherogenic vascular metabolism.
Figure 2.
Genetic countermeasures and the relation between their efficacy and the frequency of their occurrence. The
more specifically a genetic feature counteracts the increased permeability of the vascular wall the more it was
favored during evolution and the more frequently it occurs today. The deposition of Lp(a) in the vascular wall
is the most specific and therefore most frequent mechanism. Because of the specificity of Lp(a) the sustained
accumulation of this lipoprotein during chronic ascorbate deficiency leads to CVD at predisposition sites.
Diabetic and homocystinuric angiopathies are typical non-specific mechanisms. Their clinical exacerbation in
chronic ascorbate deficiency leads to peripheral vascular disease. With the exception of Lp(a), most other
lipoprotein disorders are rather nonspecific countermeasures. They either follow the deposition of Lp(a) and
aggravate CVD mainly at predisposition sites or they lead to peripheral vascular disease, such as in Type III
hyperlipidemia. Figure 2 schematically summarizes these principles. This scheme, of course, can not reflect the
multitude of polygenic variations in individual patients.
Figure 3.
The relation between ascorbate depletion and the onset of clinical symptoms in the patient. As a result of most
genetic defects the rate constants for certain metabolic reactions are decreased. Ascorbate is destroyed in the
attempt to normalize these decreased rate constants and in compensatory metabolic pathway.1,22 The overall rate
of ascorbate depletion in an individual is largely determined by the polygenic pattern of metabolic disorders in
an individual (and to some extent also by exogenous risk factors). The earlier the body ascorbate reserves are
depleted without being resupplemented the earlier the clinical manifestation occurs. Consequently, the higher
the probability of early clinical onset of a latent genetic predisposition, the higher is the amount of required
ascorbate intake to prevent this onset. For patients at high risk dietary ascorbate intake is recommended in the
range of 10,000 to 20,000 mg/d. This corresponds to the amount of ascorbate our ancestors synthesized in their
bodies before they lost this ability. The validity of Figure 3 is not limited to CVD. Ascorbate deficiency, of
course, also unmasks latent disorders predisposing to cancer and to autoimmune and other diseases.
Jim Strohecker
Daniel Redwood DC