Vitamin C Stacking. What is it? Is stacking the next-in-line biohacking trends? Absolutely not. Stacking is the principle of adding different therapies together in combination or sequence with high-dose vitamin C to augment the physiologic impact. The goal is to synergize and maximize the intended effects of therapy in genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and immunomodulomics. Yes, those are actual words. Moreover, they are the exciting fields of “omic” research that are bringing the future of precision medicine to today.
Stacking therapies integrate perfectly within the context of the integrative medicine movement. The historical and contextual meaning of the words integrative or integration have both Latin and French origins. The more recent historical contextual significance is French and means the “act of bringing together the parts of a whole.” In a more ancient context, the Latin word integrationem means “renewal, restoration, make whole, renew, and begin again.” Both definitions ascribe more to the holistic paradigm of the holistic, integrative medicine movement. In contrast, a compartmentalized approach, often in deference to the whole, is the dominant view within conventional medicine.
Many holistic and integrative practitioners augment high-dose intravenous vitamin C through the principle of stacking. Let me approach this from an evidence-based perspective of stacking therapies more in treating cancer. Common evidence-based cancer stacking therapies with vitamin C in the treatment of cancer include:
- High-dose IV vitamin C + water Fasting
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Melatonin
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Alpha Lipoic Acid
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Hyperthermia
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Artemisinin/Artesunate
- High-dose IV vitamin C + vitamin K3
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Dichloroacetate (DCA)
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Mistletoe
Though the research here is not voluminous, the supporting evidence exists in combination studies or through common therapeutic effects.
Not all stacking is beneficial, especially concerning patients with cancer. There is evidence to avoid specific vitamin C stacking therapy combinations in cancer. One of the significant pro-oxidant effects of vitamin C is the depletion of the reduced form of glutathione, which creates a detoxification crisis. As a result, the stacking of N-acetyl-cysteine or glutathione with high-dose IV vitamin C should be avoided. In addition, another major pro-oxidant effect of vitamin C in cancer is the depletion of NADH and NADPH, creating an energy crisis. As a result, the stack of NAD+ with high-dose vitamin C should be avoided. It is essential to realize that these caveats are carved out in cancer only.
Beyond a purely holistic stacking of therapies, the stacking principle crosses the cancer therapy aisle to include conventional cancer therapies. Evidence-based support for stacking High-dose vitamin C with conventional cancer therapies includes:
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Chemotherapy
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Radiation
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Surgery
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Conventional Immunotherapy
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Conventional Targeted therapies
- High-dose IV vitamin C + Conventional Hormone therapies
Vitamin C is the flagship therapy of Integrative medicine. Beyond a flagship therapy, high-dose vitamin C and the principle of vitamin C stacking are the bridge that crosses the abyss between holistic, integrative medicine and conventional medicine.
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