-`~~~~igh-ti~-g7Swi~e-FIu'
,To -KEditor: .
The `news article. "Researchers Find
-La.rge-&oses-of-Vitamin-C-May-Dam=-
age-Gene Mater&l" (May 20) describes
observations by a research. team in.
                                a  _.

Aoxjrgen--+nucleic-acids-and--Rroteins-
has been known for several years. It
-leads .to inactivation of ' viruses and
contributes to the ,control `of viral
diseases-by-vitamin-C-A-ha&
evident that animals: have some-mech;
anism to,piatect their genetic *material

~-e~~~~~r-R-~~a~c~-~~~~~~-~~~~~~ against this-sort-of-damage. For ex-
                                                                    -.- .-__.._
,vniversity_lof-British._Coiumbia on the /
                          .._I._. imei-.Y
tiutagenic act&- of ascorbic           -
                 acid,  arnp~~,~~e-mou~e~hawj_a -.low~!ut+-
,metal ions and oxygen, and quotes ' tion rate, even though `it manufactures
                 vitamin C in its own cells rit a rate-
one or up2 ~tmesofgarms z3 suggesung 7mrqmdi~fnanilnrawenFni~s
that .- peopie --. shot&l.- -"anatb-massiE
doses of vitaniin C." I have advocated  -grams. or the- vitamin-.perAay-ror-a.
Ahe-u~~~f?Yi.tW%C in amounts of  mgn. It .is ,likely ,t,hat human beings

                      --E--._-.m .._.__ _  _.
several -grams--per day- to- prevent or  haves: the--same protective me&anlsn+ _.
                                                             .-- _-
.tr&t the common cold and other in-  and thatthere is little-&nger;of harm-
fectious diseases, including influenza,  ful effects from ingesting the amounts
-and `I think. that it may be of impor-  of vitamin C, several grams per day,
t&e in relation' to the expect*. epi-  that most animals synthesize for them-
                  -selves.- ___                _- L_. . .    _-
-demic,.of-swine-. fIrthat-yople-- not         -  I_- _ __ LLil?vs_P4V&1_N_c
be; discouraged -from-:mpking pr,oper       Linus l$rlinglInstitute of
use of `this---valuable substance. The       Science and MeUfcine '
-acti& of ascorbic acid, metal ions and   Menlo Park, Calif;, May 21, i976