The role of vitamin C at the physiological and cellular levels is indisputable. In line with this, blood level of vitamin C is inversely related to disease parameters such as risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and mortality in prospective cohort and correlational studies. At the same time, adequately powered clinical intervention studies consistently provide no evidence for a beneficial effect of supplementing vitamin C. Here we provide a framework to resolve this apparent conflict. Besides providing an overview of the widely-known facts regarding vitamin C, we review evidence that are of potential relevance but are seldomly mentioned in the context of vitamin C. We invoke the glucose-ascorbate antagonism (GAA) theory which predicts that as a consequence of their molecular similarity glucose hinders the entry of vitamin C into cells. Integrating data coming from research at the cellular level, those from clinical, anthropological and dietary studies, in the present hypothesis paper we propose an evolutionary framework which may synthesize currently available data in the relation of vitamin C and disease. We put forward that instead of taking vitamin C as a supplement, an evolutionary adapted human diet based on meat, fat and offal would provide enough vitamin C to cover physiological needs and to ward off diseases associated with vitamin C deficiency.

Introduction

Magnesium plays an essential role in several enzymatic reactions. Its deficiency is known to be widespread and has been associated with a variety of pathological conditions characterized by chronic inflammation and/or oxidative stress. The connection between the metabolism of glucose and magnesium at the cell level is well-established. We hypothesize that magnesium deficiency in chronic conditions is primarily due to Western type carbohydrate based metabolism. In previous case studies we have shown that magnesium levels are normal on the paleolithic ketogenic diet. Here we assessed magnesium levels in a larger sample (n=50) to address whether the paleolithic ketogenic diet is able to ensure normal blood magnesium levels.

Materials and Methods

To assess magnesium levels in patients and healthy controls on the paleolithic ketogenic diet in a larger sample, we retrospectively analysed laboratory data obtained from 50 patients/subjects who were following the diet and were also not taking magnesium or other supplements. Correlation calculation was performed between magnesium and glucose levels.

Results

We found magnesium levels to be in the normal range in all but one patient/subject. There was a significant inverse correlation between glucose and magnesium levels.

Discussion

Our results indicate that the paleolithic ketogenic diet ensures normal magnesium levels in various pathological conditions as well as in healthy subjects. We believe that the high prevelance of magnesium deficiency reported earlier for a variety of chronic conditions is correlated with carbohydrate-based Western type nutrition rather than that of the chronic condition itself. We discuss underlying mechanisms.