The British study was published by the Centre for Ageing and Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom. (astrid.fletcher@lshtm.ac.uk). In their paper the researchers say,
We found a strong inverse relationship for blood ascorbate (vitamin C) concentrations with all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, which were only marginally reduced after adjustment for confounders or supplement use. Those in the lowest fifth (< 17 micromol/L) had the highest mortality, whereas those in the highest fifth (> 66 micromol/L) had a mortality risk nearly half that (hazard ratio = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.84). Similar results were found after the exclusion of those subjects with cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline (hazard ratio = 0.51; 0.28, 0.93). In fully adjusted models, there was no evidence for an influence of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, or retinol on total mortality. Dietary antioxidants measured by the food-frequency questionnaire were not associated with all-cause or cardiovascular disease mortality. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Nov;78(5):999-1010., Fletcher AE, Breeze E, Shetty PS.)
Linus Pauling is vindicated again. Perhaps once and for all, this study will remove all doubt regarding the risk from cardiovascular disease and death caused by low vitamin C levels in the blood. To those that disagree with this now proven premise, we say show us the contrary data. If the Oxford Heart Protection Study (HPS) is cited, it must be explained as to why they continue to hide their mortality data. The HPS researchers have yet to release their data, which has caused a stir among Lancet letter writers.
In this article British author/researcher Malcolm Kendrick, MD, comments about HPS study:
"In the Heart Protection Study (HPS), a major study in which the rate of deaths was (reportedly) reduced in patients taking a statin (simvastatin), at post-mortem, the people who had been taking the statin had bigger and more complex plaques than those who had not."
It should be no surprise to anyone that there is a strong, undeniable relationship between vitamin C and heart disease. In 1992, Linus Pauling claimed, and proved, that cardiovascular disease could be "completely controlled, even cured" with high doses of vitamin-C and the amino acid lysine.
The "synthetic HDL" story is not without its fascination, but for a very different reason. The head NCAHCF quackbuster Robert Baratz, MD, PhD, has said, "The only acceptable way to measure reductions in plaque caused by atherosclerosis is to cut out the artery and examine it." Presumably, the artery would have to be removed and examined before and after the experiment, making it quite difficult to study cardiovascular disease therapies in humans.
Setting the bar this high has made it difficult for mainstream medicine to believe studies in humans that show reductions in plaque. The first placebo controlled study that found vitamin C reduced plaques was run by the Canadian doctor G.C. Willis in the 1950s. ( SERIAL ARTERIOGRAPHY IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS, G. C. Willis, A. W. Light, W.S. Cow, Canad. M. A. J. Dec 1954, Vol 71, p. 562-568 )
If the medical world is now ready to believe that "highly accurate ultrasound studies" can, in fact, detect a 4% reduction in plaque, Pauling's therapy for cardiovascular disease will have been given the tool it needs for wide acceptance.
What about the new synthetic HDL "drano" drug the media believed to be so important? Investors dumped the stock big-time as the "miracle" news broke.
"Shares of Esperion fell 16 cents to $17.50 Tuesday on the Nasdaq. The stock of the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company plunged 26 percent Monday, with more than 5.1 million shares changing hands, on speculation the results would be released.Some analysts said investors dumped Esperion's stock on concerns that "plaque reduction -- at about 4 percent -- was not as big as expected"
Owen Fonorow Vitamin C Foundation www.VitaminCFoundation.org www.PaulingTherapy.com fonorow@foxvalley.net