Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-31
Radiation Antidote
Seen in Orange Juice
Nitomin P Also Strengthens
Walls Of Blood CupiIlories
BY Thomos R. Henry

''sSs'oS Ns
A light yellow. nearly insoluble SUBJ
stance present in orange juice affords
a high degree Of protection against
otherwise fatal radiation.
1t also appears to protect aging per-
sons against likelihood of internal
hemorrhages, often fatal, danger of
which increases with the years.
This Is vitamin P. the anti-per-
meability vitamin, which apparently
acts in conjunction with the anti
scurvy substance. ascorbic acid, in
preventing fatal weakness of blood
capillarieS. The notable effects of the
substance in protecting against radia-
ton, such as one might experience on
the fringe of an atom bomb explosion
area, are reported by DrS. Boris Soko-
loft and James Redd of Florida South
ern College. Their findings are based
primarily on experiments with rats
subjected to near-fatal X-radiation
doses. One Of the effects of lethal
radiation apparently is to so weaken
the walls of the capillaries that blood
bursts through them, and while there
are many other effects. this is often
the one which causes death.
Long Search Begun.
The vitamin first was reported nearly
20 years ago by Prof. Albert Scent
Gyorgyi, Hungarian Nobel Prize win
ner who originally isolated ascorbic
acid. He had found that the acid
itself sometimes seemed to have little
effect and that some auxiliary sub
stance must be essential. This led to
a long search for an apparently ex-
tremely elusive material the real func-
ton and necessity for which has been
subject to considerable debate ever
since.
In the Florida experiment, DR.. Soko-
loft subjected 20 rats on an ordinary
animal diet, supposedly containing all
essential nutrients, to radiation doses
just short of what would certainly kill
them. During the second and third
weeks after the exposure Is of them
died. All showed gross hemorrhages
throughout the body, together with
pronounced pathological LESSONS of the
adrenal glands.
Mortality Cut.
Another group was given a minute
amount of vitamin P three days before
the radiation and seven days after. The
mortality during the next three weeks
was cut down from 80 to 40 per cent.
To a third group he gave more than
three times the daily dose of vitamin P
over period of 80 days. Among these
mortality was reduced to 10 per cent
and internal hemorrhages were almost
non-existent.
Whether this has any application to
human hnionc -
radiation is quite uncertain, but if the
same effect as that achieved with rats
can be demonstrated. the finding would
take on great Importance. The human
physiology in general is quite similar.
Now, DR.. Sokolof points out III an
other report, aging has an effect some
what similar to radiation on the blood
vessels The capillaries are growing
less resistant every year, and Those of
mlddle-aged man are about four-fold
as subject to breaking under heavy
pressure as those of an infant. All the
time blood pressure is increasing.
The amount of the vitamin present
in fruit juices is quite small. 1t is not
stored in the body to any great extent.
Blood Pressure Danger,
ut is estimated" says DR.. Sokoloff,
that million people in this country
alone have abnormally high blood pres
sure. In all cases where blood pressure
is above the normal level there Is dan
ger that the capillaries will not be able
to Withstand the pressure, for the fra
gility Of capillaries increases with age.
Sudden death might be caused by the
breakdown Of the capillary wall and
consequent profuse internal bleeding.
A hemorrhage may take place in the
brain. heart. stomach or eye.
1T seems essential that every person
approaching middle age should receive
in the diet an ample amount of vitamin
P. The best source, in its most active
form thus far discovered. is orange
juice. Only Juice from ripe fruit is
rich in this factor. 1t appears that 90
milligramS of vitamin P a day might
be sufficient to keep the capillary sys-
tenn in healthy condition. Thus a
six-ounce can of frozen concentrate
manufactured in April-May will supply
the minimum daily requirement. But
a can produced in December or even
January, will not be sufficient 1t
should be sufficient to take double the
amount, which is somewhat too large
an amount to drink daily"