Those who took more than about 200 milligrams of C supplements daily experienced a greater rate of arterial thickening. Though Dr. Dwyer himself believes you should not take vitamin C supplements except on a physician's advice, he states that this new evidence is preliminary and merely suggestive. Whatever the press may have made of it, this study has not yet been published. The summary of the study provides incomplete data and leaves many crucial questions unanswered. When the study appears, we'll look carefully at it.
Further work is needed.
Many good studies show that vitamin C has potential benefits against cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and other disorders. This is the first report of an effect on arterial walls. In fact, long-term studies have never demonstrated serious harm from vitamin C, as would be expected if this were a real problem. We're sure enough of this evidence to recommend a diet rich in vitamin C, as well as a daily supplement of 250 to 500 milligrams daily. And if you take C, take E supplements, too, since they work together.