G6PD (Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency)

G6PD (Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency)

G6PD

G6PD (Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; G6PDD)

by Andrew W. Saul

The risks of vitamin C to persons with G6PD are real but generally exaggerated. It would be best for you, your family, and your doctor, to search the internet carefully and look for the actual cases of reported problems with vitamin C in G6PD patients. There have been some, but I cannot find many.

Therefore, since I am not a physician, I think some expert opinion would be helpful:

Susanne Humphries, MD, board certified in internal medicine and nephrology writes:

"Anyone with a very rare disorder called Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDD), which can cause anemia and red blood cells breaking open when certain foods and drugs are given, should not use mega doses of vitamin C, except under specialist care. If you or your family has a history of anemia or G6PD deficiency, consult a doctor well informed in vitamin C immunobiology before taking vitamin C. If I suspect there could be a family history, I always send for the blood test as early as possible. People with this disorder can still take moderate doses of ascorbate when they are very ill."

The Riordan IVC Protocol for Adjunctive Cancer Care: Intravenous Ascorbate as a Chemotherapeutic and Biological Response Modifying Agent, p 12 and 13 states:

"The G6PD level should be assessed before beginning intravenous vitamin C (IVC). (At the Riordan Clinic, G6PD readings have yielded five cases of abnormally low levels. Subsequent IVC at 25 grams [25,000 mg] or less showed no hemolysis or adverse effects."

For additional reading:

1. Hickey S, Saul AW. Vitamin C: The Real Story, the Remarkable and Controversial Healing Factor. Basic Health Pub, 2008. ISBN-13: 9781591202233.

2. Levy TE. Primal Panacea. Medfox Pubs, 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0983772804.

3. Saul AW (Ed) Orthomolecular Treatment of Chronic Disease: 65 Experts on Therapeutic and Preventive Nutrition. Basic Health Pub, 2014. ISBN-13: 978-1591203704.

Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html ) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

Andrew W. Saul

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