Riordan Clinic Research Institute Update

In December 2012, the Riordan Clinic Research Institute, led by Dr. Nina Mikirova, published a study in the Journal of Modern Research in Inflammation concerning the effects of intravenous vitamin C on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The article, titled, “Effect of high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid on the level of inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,” focuses on research based on the properties of ascorbic acid to reduce oxidative stress, decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and suppress the activation of pro-inflammatory nuclear factors. The rheumatoid arthritis patients in this study were characterized by moderate to high levels of the inflammation marker CRP accompanying moderate to severe discomfort levels.

The IVC therapy with dosages of 7.5 g-50 g reduced inflammation, as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, on average by 44 %. As chronic inflammation underlies the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis, the decreasing of inflammation and oxidative stress provide protection for regenerating cartilage within the joint.

Based on this pilot study, the researchers hypothesized that IVC therapy can be a useful strategy in treating RA.

In January 2013, this research was also referenced in Nutraceuticals World Now Magazine in an article entitled, “Vitamin C Proves Promising for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Riordan Clinic scientists find high dose of intravenous vitamin C eases the pain and inflammation associated with the major inflammatory joint disease.”

The article can be read in its entirety on the magazine’s website at http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_online-exclusives/2013-01-17/vitamin-c-proves-promising-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/.