Vitamin C and Adrenal Fatigue

The Important Role of Vitamin C in Adrenal Function
We all know that vitamin C is an important part of a healthy immune support system, but its critical role in adrenal function is no less valuable—and far less well known.

Facts about vitamin C and adrenal function:
• The highest concentration of vitamin C in the body is stored in the adrenal glands.
• Vitamin C is utilized by the adrenal glands for the production of all adrenal hormones, most notably cortisol.
• When you are faced with a stressful situation, vitamin C is rapidly used up in the production of cortisol and related stress-response hormones.

In adrenal fatigue, the glands can “panic” when there is not enough vitamin C available and may release more cortisol. This not only increases immediate anxiety, but when high cortisol levels are prolonged, they can wreak havoc on blood sugar and blood pressure and contribute to the accumulation of belly fat.

Vitamin C and Your Immune Support System
Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells (the body’s infection fighters), as well as interferon and virus antibodies. It also stimulates the production of liver detoxifying enzymes that help eliminate toxic waste products from the body, including environmental chemicals you may have been exposed to.

Additional Roles of Vitamin C in the Body
In addition to its role in hormone production and immune response, vitamin C has many other important functions:
• Antioxidant protection: Vitamin C helps prevent oxidative stress, which is damage to cellular DNA that can leave the body vulnerable to serious degenerative diseases, including cancer. Studies have shown that adequate vitamin C intake may reduce the risk of certain non-hormonal cancers, sometimes by as much as half compared to those with low intake.
• Eye health: Cataracts and macular degeneration are also linked to oxidative stress, and increasing vitamin C intake may help prevent these and other signs of aging.
• Collagen formation: Vitamin C is essential for the formation of collagen—the elastic tissue that keeps skin looking youthful and blood vessels strong. Frequent bruising can be a sign that the body needs more vitamin C.
• Cardiovascular health: It plays a role in reducing plaque buildup in the arteries and helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Mineral absorption: Vitamin C enhances the absorption of important trace minerals such as iron and zinc. Taking vitamin C with iron- or zinc-rich foods or supplements is key for optimal absorption.
• Heat and light sensitivity: Vitamin C is sensitive to both light and heat, so commercially processed or pasteurized orange juice may contain very little vitamin C by the time it reaches your home. Additionally, orange juice can be hard on the adrenal glands due to its rapid and extreme effect on blood sugar.

How Much Vitamin C Is Needed?
Vitamin C is water-soluble, so it is quickly processed and eliminated from the body. For this reason, it is best taken in smaller, evenly spaced doses throughout the day rather than as a single megadose. A typical daily dose ranges from 1,000–2,000 mg, divided into multiple doses.

During illness, therapeutic doses of 5,000–10,000 mg may be used short-term. In these cases, it is important to gradually decrease intake as symptoms improve to avoid rebound symptoms that can mimic scurvy (vitamin C deficiency). This precaution is especially important during pregnancy or nursing, as the baby becomes accustomed to higher vitamin C levels. One way to determine your optimal dose is by monitoring bowel tolerance. When stools become loose or watery, you have exceeded bowel tolerance. At that point, reduce the dosage to about 1,000–1,500 mg per day. This diarrhea is temporary and should resolve once intake is reduced.

For adrenal fatigue, intake commonly ranges from 2,000–5,000 mg per day, and possibly more during periods of high stress or when feeling under the weather.

Common Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency
Scurvy is rare in modern countries with well-rounded diets, but milder vitamin C deficiency is common. Symptoms may include:
• Bleeding gums when brushing teeth
• Tooth loss
• Easy bruising
• Poor wound healing
• Frequent colds or respiratory infections

Osteoporosis can be considered a form of chronic scurvy—not a calcium deficiency, but a demineralization of the bones. Increasing vitamin C intake may help prevent osteopenia, which can progress to osteoporosis. Alcohol, oral contraceptives (“the Pill”), smoking, antidepressants, and over-the-counter painkillers can all dramatically reduce vitamin C levels in the body.

What Form of Vitamin C Is Best?
Vitamin C is ascorbic acid, which can cause stomach upset in some individuals. For this reason, a buffered form is often better tolerated. Many vitamin C supplements also include bioflavonoids, which enhance absorption.
• Food sources: Citrus fruits, camu-camu berry, and acerola cherry
• Tapioca-derived vitamin C: A gentle, effective form that is not corn-based
• Liposomal vitamin C: Encapsulated in phospholipids, allowing it to pass directly into the bloodstream without digestive degradation. This form comes as a thick liquid that can be mixed with water or swallowed directly from the packet.
• Most fruits—especially citrus—are excellent sources of vitamin C. However, I generally recommend supplementing with a minimum of 2,000 mg per day, doubling the dosage during periods of high stress or illness.