A Histamine "Vacuum"

[MastCells]

I find Ester C (a buffered form of Vit. C that will not acidify the urine) to be useful for combating the fatigue I feel after eating some foods. Vitamin C is a histamine vacuum, and that's how I believe it helps.

I'm interested in how vitamin C can act as a histamine vacuum. I'd assume vitamin C has this effect on other molecules, and I'm wondering if anyone has any sources (www or medline) that discuss this effect.

[webslave]

J Am Coll Nutr. 1992 Apr;11(2):172-6.

Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis.

Johnston CS, Martin LJ, Cai X.
Department of Family Resources and Human Development, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287.

Renewed interest in the antihistamine action of ascorbic acid has emerged with the recently recognized immunosuppressive role of histamine. We examined the antihistamine effect of acute and chronic vitamin C (VC) administration and its effect on neutrophil chemotaxis in healthy men and women. In the chronic study, 10 subjects ingested a placebo during weeks 1, 2, 5 and 6, and 2 g/day of VC during weeks 3 and 4. Fasting blood samples were collected after the initial 2-week period (baseline) and at the end of weeks 4 and 6. Plasma ascorbate rose significantly following VC administration compared to baseline and withdrawal values. Neutrophil chemotaxis rose 19% (NS) during VC administration, and fell 30% after VC withdrawal, but these changes were not correlated to plasma ascorbate levels (r = 0.01). Chemotaxis was inversely correlated to blood histamine (r = -0.32, p = 0.045), and, compared to baseline and withdrawal values, histamine levels were depressed 38% following VC supplementation. Blood histamine and neutrophil chemotaxis did not change 4 hours following a single 2 g dose of ascorbic acid, although plasma ascorbate rose 150%. These data indicate that VC may indirectly enhance chemotaxis by detoxifying histamine in vivo.

PMID: 1578094 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[MastCells]

Thanks for that abstract, Mark. Didn't you also mention once that you had concerns about taking too much vitamin C because of its vacuum effect? Perhaps large enough doses would deprive one's body of something or some things it needs to stay healthy? Could you elaborate on your concerns?

[webslave]

Megadoses of Vit C can leech calcium from the body.