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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin C
- “Journal of the American College of Nutrition”; Antihistamine Effect of Supplemental Ascorbic Acid and Neutrophil Chemotaxis; C.S. Johnston, et al.; April 1992
- “Journal of the American College of Nutrition”; Antihistamine Effect of Supplemental Ascorbic Acid and Neutrophil Chemotaxis; C.S. Johnston, et al.; April 1992
- “Journal of the American Dietetic Association”; Antihistamine Effects and Complications of Supplemental Vitamin C; C.S. Johnston, et al.; August 1992
- “Journal of the American Dietetic Association”; Antihistamine Effects and Complications of Supplemental Vitamin C; C.S. Johnston, et al.; August 1992
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Antihistamine Action of Vitamin C
Fifty million Americans have allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 3. Allergies are the result of histamine, a substance released when foreign particles invade the body and cause an immune response such as hives, sneezing and watery eyes. Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin your body excretes through the urine, acts as an antihistamine. Consult your physician before starting any new supplements to treat allergies, as adverse reactions can occur.
Vitamin C as an Antihistamine
Vitamin C reduces the amount of histamine in the blood. An article from the August 1992 “Journal of the American Dietetic Association” found that 2 g of ascorbic acid decreased histamine levels by 40 percent 45. An article from the April 1992 “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” also found that 2 g of ascorbic acid decreased histamine levels by 38 percent, and those levels did not change for four hours 4.
How Vitamin C Works as an Antihistamine
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In the March 2011 “Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine,” researchers reported that Vitamin C works as an antihistamine by destroying the molecular structure of the imidole ring of the histamine molecule, thereby decreasing the amount of histamine in the blood 6. The absorption of vitamin C is highly dependent on the amount ingested. To achieve tissue saturation of vitamin C requires more than 500 mg per day. More than 2 g can cause diarrhea.
- In the March 2011 “Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine,” researchers reported that Vitamin C works as an antihistamine by destroying the molecular structure of the imidole ring of the histamine molecule, thereby decreasing the amount of histamine in the blood 6.
- More than 2 g can cause diarrhea.
Vitamin C Deficiency
Although vitamin C toxicity is rare, since it is a water-soluble vitamin and cannot be stored, the same cannot be said about vitamin C deficiency. In the May 2004 “American Journal of Public Health,” researchers assessed the occurrence of vitamin C deficiency in the U.S. among a population of 15,769 people aged 12 to 74 years, and found overall that 14 percent of males and 10 percent of females were vitamin C deficient. A deficiency in vitamin C can cause:
- scurvy
- easy bleeding
- anemia
- swollen joints
- dry skin
- weight gain
- dry hair
Foods High in Vitamin C
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Fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C include:
- oranges
- green peppers
- mangoes
- strawberries
- cantaloupe
- tomatoes
- broccoli
- cabbage
- blueberries
- raspberries
- fortified juices
To maximize vitamin C absorption, consume fruits and vegetables raw because vitamin C is sensitive to temperature, light and air.
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References
- MedlinePlus: Vitamin C
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Allergy Facts and Figures
- “Journal of the American College of Nutrition”; Antihistamine Effect of Supplemental Ascorbic Acid and Neutrophil Chemotaxis; C.S. Johnston, et al.; April 1992
- “Journal of the American Dietetic Association”; Antihistamine Effects and Complications of Supplemental Vitamin C; C.S. Johnston, et al.; August 1992
- “Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine”; Vitamin C: Overview and Update; Amanda K. Schlueter, et al.; March 2011
- Holick MF, Gordon CM. Patient Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(7):1-2. doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a
- Sunyecz JA. The use of calcium and vitamin D in the management of osteoporosis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4(4):827-836. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3552
- Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(11):1174-1180. doi:10.1001/archinte.168.11.1174
- Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, et al. Optimal vitamin D status for colorectal cancer prevention: a quantitative meta analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2007;32(3):210-216. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.11.004
- Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007;85(6):1586-1591. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.6.1586
- Prentice RL, Pettinger MB, Jackson RD, et al. Health risks and benefits from calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and cohort study. Osteoporos Int. 2013;24(2):567-580. doi:10.1007/s00198-012-2224-2
- Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(5):1255-1260. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094
- Salehpour A, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, et al. A 12-week double-blind randomized clinical trial of vitamin D₃ supplementation on body fat mass in healthy overweight and obese women. Nutr J. 2012;11:78. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-78
- Carrillo AE, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, et al. Impact of vitamin D supplementation during a resistance training intervention on body composition, muscle function, and glucose tolerance in overweight and obese adults. Clin Nutr. 2013;32(3):375-381. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2012.08.014
- Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J, Płudowski P, Jones G. Vitamin D Toxicity-A Clinical Perspective. Front Endocrinol. 2018;9:550. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00550
- Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et al. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(1):53-58. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2704
- Bouillon R, Van Schoor NM, Gielen E, et al. Optimal vitamin D status: a critical analysis on the basis of evidence-based medicine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(8):E1283-E1304. doi:10.1210/jc.2013-1195
- American Academy of Dermatology. Position Statement of Vitamin D. 2010.
- Taksler GB, Cutler DM, Giovannucci E, Keating NL. Vitamin D deficiency in minority populations. Public Health Nutr. 2015;18(3):379-391. doi:10.1017/S1368980014000457
- Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(7):1911-1930. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-0385
- Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, et al. Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. 2006; 134:1129-40.
- Carrillo AE1, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, Markofski MM, Jiang Y, Donkin SS, Teegarden D. Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation During a Resistance Training Intervention on Body Composition, Muscle Function, and Glucose Tolerance in Overweight and Obese Adults. Clin Nutr. 2013 Jun;32(3):375-81. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.08.014. Epub 2012 Aug 31.
- Ginde AA, Mansbach JM, Camargo CA, Jr. Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169:384-90.
- Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men: a Prospective Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168:1174-80.
- Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, Grant WB, Mohr SB, Lipkin M, Newmark HL, Giovannucci E, Wei M, Holick MF. Optimal Vitamin D Status for Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Quantitative Meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2007 Mar;32(3):210-6.
- Heaney, Robert P. “The Vitamin D Requirement in Health and Disease.” The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 97 (2005):13-9.
- Holick MF. Vitamin D. In: Shils M, Olson J, Shike M, Ross AC, ed. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1999.
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet. University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center. Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Aug 2007: 07-E013.
- Salehpour A1, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, Vafa M, Razaghi M, Dehghani S, Hoshiarrad A, Gohari M. A 12-week Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial of Vitamin D₃ Supplementation on Body Fat Mass in Healthy Overweight and Obese Women. Nutr J. 2012 Sep 22;11:78. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-78.
- Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent Seasonal Influenza A in Schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 91:1255-60. Epub 2010 Mar 10.
- Wilkins, Consuelo H. and Yvette I. Sheline, et al. “Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Low Mood and Worse Cognitive Performance in Older Adults.” American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 14 (2006): 1032-40.
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Writer Bio
Kin Leung has been practicing naturopathic and alternative medicine since 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Northern British Columbia as well as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.