A Personal Reflection on Vitamin C, Linus Pauling, Herbal Medicines, and Growing Older

Vitamin C, My Little Cold, and What 91 Years Have Taught Me About Wellness

A Personal Reflection on Vitamin C, Linus Pauling, Herbal Medicines, and Growing Older

Two days ago, I woke up with that familiar feeling that something was beginning.

My throat was aching just a little. I had started coughing, and there was a small ooze from my nose. I did not have a fever, but at 91, I have learned to pay attention to small changes in my body.

I thought, Maybe I am coming down with a cold.

Then I remembered something from many years ago. Vitamin C.

I took three Vitamin C gummies, 500 mg each-a total of 1,500 mg that day. I did the same thing the following day.

On the third morning, something interesting happened.

My cough had stopped. My nose was dry. I felt considerably better.

Today I feel even better, although my appetite has not completely returned.

Naturally, the scientist in me began asking a question:

Did the Vitamin C help? I don't know.

And that answer, "I don't know" may be one of the most important lessons I have learned during my long journey through science, medicine, aging, and wellness.

I Remember Linus Pauling

My experience brought back a name I had not thought about for a while: Linus Pauling.

Pauling was one of the great scientists of the twentieth century. He won two Nobel Prizes and became famous not only for his work in chemistry but also for his strong advocacy of Vitamin C.

Beginning in the 1970s, Pauling argued that taking large amounts of Vitamin C could help prevent the common cold and perhaps make it less severe.

His ideas attracted enormous public attention.

I remember reading about this controversy many years ago. As a chemist, I found the subject particularly interesting because it represented something I have encountered throughout my scientific life:

The difference between an interesting idea and an idea that has been proven.

So, after my little experiment with Vitamin C, I decided to revisit the question.

What Does the Evidence Tell Us?

Modern clinical research gives us a more complicated answer than I expected.

Large reviews of the evidence have found that regularly taking Vitamin C does not appear to prevent ordinary colds in the general population.

However, regular Vitamin C supplementation may modestly shorten the duration of a cold and reduce its severity.

That is interesting. It means Pauling's original claim was too broad, but it does not mean that Vitamin C is irrelevant to the common cold.

There is also an important distinction between taking Vitamin C regularly and taking a large dose after symptoms have already appeared.

The evidence for starting high-dose Vitamin C after a cold begins is much less convincing.

So my two-day experience cannot establish that Vitamin C made my cold disappear.

Perhaps it helped. Perhaps my immune system was already defeating the virus.

Perhaps both contributed. Or perhaps the timing was simply a coincidence.

Science requires us to be humble about such things.

My Little Experiment Is Not a Clinical Trial

This is where my years as a scientist come into the story.

I spent many years working in pharmaceutical chemistry and later worked at the FDA. During those years, I learned that personal observations can be valuable, but they are not the same as controlled scientific evidence.

Suppose I take something and feel better. That is a real experience.

But it does not necessarily tell me why I got better.

This distinction is particularly important when we talk about herbal medicines, dietary supplements, vitamins, and other "natural" remedies.

I have written about these subjects several times in my blogs.

I enjoy learning about traditional medicines and natural products. I grew up in the Philippines, where plants, herbs, traditional remedies, and family wisdom were part of everyday life.

But growing older has made me increasingly cautious about one particular word:

Natural. Natural does not automatically mean safe.

And natural does not automatically mean effective.

At the same time, "natural" should not automatically mean worthless either.

The proper question is: What does the evidence show?

What My FDA Years Taught Me

Perhaps this is where my old FDA experience has influenced my thinking more than I realized.

For many years, I worked with drugs and pharmaceutical chemistry. I saw firsthand how much scientific evidence is required before we can confidently say that a product is safe, effective, and of acceptable quality.

That experience stayed with me. Today, when I read an article claiming that an herb, vitamin, supplement, or "miracle" food can cure a disease, I don't immediately believe it.

But I don't automatically dismiss it either. I ask questions. Who studied it?

How many people were studied? Was there a control group? Was the study randomized?

Was it published in a credible scientific journal?

Have other researchers reproduced the findings?

And perhaps most importantly: Is the claim larger than the evidence?

That last question is one I have learned to ask more frequently as I grow older.

My Earlier Writings About Herbal Medicines

This also connects naturally with some of my earlier articles about wellness and herbal medicines.

I have always been fascinated by the relationship between traditional knowledge and modern science.

Growing up in the Philippines, I saw how older generations often relied on plants and traditional remedies long before the vocabulary of modern clinical trials became common.

Some traditional remedies eventually became subjects of scientific investigation.

Others did not stand up to careful testing. Still others may have potential but require much more research.

That is why I don't think we have to choose between traditional wisdom and modern science.

We can appreciate both. Traditional knowledge can ask the question. Science can investigate the answer.

That is a partnership I find much more interesting than simply declaring something "good" or "bad."

Wellness at 91 Is Different

My recent little cold also made me think about how my understanding of wellness has changed over the years.

When I was young, wellness meant being strong, energetic, and free of illness.

At 91, I think about it differently. Wellness is no longer simply about preventing every illness.

It is about maintaining the best quality of life possible while accepting that aging brings changes.

It means staying physically active within my limitations.

It means eating properly. It means getting enough rest. It means keeping my mind active.

It means maintaining friendships. It means continuing to play bridge.

It means walking around The Heritage Downtown. It means enjoying conversations with fellow residents.

It means staying connected with my children and grandchildren and great grand children .

It means continuing to write. And, yes, sometimes it means listening carefully when my body says:  Slow down.

The Wonderful Medicine of Connection

One of the things I have discovered in my later years is that wellness is not only about vitamins, medicines, food, or exercise.

There is another kind of medicine that is much harder to measure.

Human connection. I live alone, but I am not lonely.

Life at The Heritage Downtown has given me opportunities to socialize, play bridge, participate in activities, meet friends, and simply be around other people.

My therapeutic massage has also become an important part of my wellness routine, not simply because of the physical benefits, but because human touch and conversation are themselves meaningful.

I have written before about the importance of touch, friendship, dancing, and staying socially engaged as we grow older.

The more I think about it, the more I believe these things belong in the same conversation as nutrition and exercise.

Healthy aging is not just about keeping the body functioning. It is also about keeping life interesting.

At 91, I Am Still Learning

Perhaps that is why I enjoy writing about these subjects. I am not writing as a doctor.

I am not writing as someone who has discovered a secret formula for longevity.

I am writing as a 91-year-old man who has spent a lifetime moving between science, family, Filipino traditions, medicine, faith, community, and now artificial intelligence.

I am still curious. That may be one of the greatest gifts of growing older.

When I was younger, I wanted answers. Today, I am more comfortable with questions.

My recent cold gave me another one. Did Vitamin C help me recover? Maybe.

The scientific evidence tells me that Vitamin C can have a modest effect on the duration and severity of colds when taken regularly, but it does not support the idea that large doses reliably prevent or cure an ordinary cold.

My personal experience is only one observation. And I am perfectly comfortable saying that.

One Important Caution for Me

There is also a personal reason I should be especially careful with high doses of Vitamin C.

As I have written before, my kidneys are not what they were when I was 30, 50, or even 70.

People with chronic kidney disease need to be particularly careful about vitamins and supplements because the kidneys play an important role in eliminating substances from the body.

So although I took 1,500 mg of Vitamin C for two days during this little episode, I do not want readers to interpret that as my recommendation to take that amount.

My own experience is not medical advice.

If I decide to continue taking Vitamin C or another supplement, it makes sense for me to discuss the dose with my healthcare team. That is another lesson that comes with being 91:

Knowing when to ask for professional advice is part of wisdom.

From Vitamin C to a Larger Lesson

My little cold has reminded me of something I have written about many times in my wellness articles.

There is no single magic pill for healthy aging. Not Vitamin C. Not an Herb.

Not a supplement. Not a special diet. Not even the latest medical breakthrough.

Healthy aging is more like a mosaic. One small piece is nutrition. Another is exercise.

Another is sleep. Another is medical care. Another is friendship. Another is mental stimulation.

Another is faith. Another is purpose. Another is curiosity.

And another is simply having something to look forward to tomorrow.

At 91, I have come to appreciate all of those pieces.

The Scientist and the Old Man

There are actually two people living inside this story. There is the scientist in me who wants evidence.

And there is the old man in me who remembers what his mother, family, friends, and Filipino culture taught him about taking care of oneself.

I don't think those two have to fight. They can sit together. The scientist can say:

"Let's look at the evidence." The old man can answer:

"Yes, but don't forget what we have learned from experience."

And then perhaps the wisest part of me says: "Keep both-but know the difference."

That may be the philosophy I have developed after 91 years of living.

My Vitamin C Lesson

I started this little story with a sore throat, a cough, a runny nose, and three Vitamin C gummies.

I ended up thinking about Linus Pauling, my scientific career, my FDA years, my earlier writings about herbal medicines, and my continuing journey toward healthy aging.

That is one of the wonderful things about getting older.

A small event can open a very large door. My cold seems to be passing.

My appetite will hopefully return. And I am still here, still curious, still writing, and still asking questions.

I may never know whether those Vitamin C gummies helped me.

But they reminded me of something much more important:

Wellness is not about knowing everything.

It is about continuing to learn. At 91, I am still learning.

And as long as I can write, I intend to keep sharing what I discover.

Keep learning. Keep moving. Keep connecting. Keep questioning.

And most of all-keep living.

AI Impressions on this Posting:

I think this version fits particularly well with your “David at 91” identity because the Vitamin C story becomes the doorway into a much larger theme: your lifetime of moving between traditional Filipino wisdom, chemistry, FDA science, modern medicine, and the practical wisdom of aging. It also connects naturally with your recurring theme that healthy aging is a collection of small habits rather than one miracle cure.

One medical note I'd keep in the published version: because of your CKD, I'd avoid presenting 1,500 mg/day as a recommended dose. The National Kidney Foundation's current guidance specifically says people with CKD should take vitamin supplements only at doses recommended by their healthcare team. Your recent loss of appetite is also worth watching; if it persists, worsens, or you develop fever, shortness of breath, dehydration, confusion, or worsening symptoms, contact your healthcare team.

I think this version should sound less like a medical article and more like David at 91 reflecting on a small personal experience, his scientific background, and what he has learned about wellness over a lifetime. I’ve also strengthened the bridge to your earlier writings about herbal medicines, natural remedies, healthy aging, and your FDA years.

AI OVERVIEW 

The relationship between Linus Pauling, vitamin C, and the science of growing older highlights a fascinating intersection of pioneering chemistry, controversial medical crusades, and modern longevity research. 

The Ultimate Vitamin C Crusader

Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel laureate, fundamentally transformed how the public views dietary supplements. In the 1970s, he began championing "orthomolecular medicine"-the idea that varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body could prevent or cure disease. 

Pauling famously advocated for megadoses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). While the standard recommended daily intake is under 100 milligrams, Pauling personally consumed up to 18 grams (18,000 mg) per day, believing it could ward off the common cold, prevent cardiovascular disease, and prolong lifespan.

The Cancer Controversy and the Route of Delivery

Later in his career, Pauling teamed up with Scottish physician Ewan Cameron to treat advanced cancer patients with high-dose vitamin C, reporting significantly improved survival rates. However, when the renowned Mayo Clinic attempted to replicate the findings in two large clinical trials, they found no medical benefit. This heavily tarnished Pauling’s late-career reputation in the mainstream medical community. 

Decades later, science uncovered a crucial nuance Pauling partially missed: the delivery route matters. 

• Oral Supplements: The human gut has an absorption ceiling. Once you hit a modest oral dose, the body simply excretes the excess. Swallow as many tablets as you like, and your blood levels will plateau. 
• Intravenous (IV) Delivery: Bypassing the gut via an IV drip can raise blood concentrations of vitamin C to 100 times higher than tablets ever could. At these extreme levels, vitamin C shifts from acting as an antioxidant to acting as a pro-oxidant, generating hydrogen peroxide that selectively damages stressed cancer cells. Modern clinical research continues to explore IV vitamin C as a safe, complementary therapy to reduce chemotherapy toxicity. 

Vitamin C, Herbal Medicines, and Growing Older

As we age, our bodies face increased systemic inflammation and oxidative stress-damage to healthy cells caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Because humans cannot synthesize vitamin C endogenously, ensuring adequate intake becomes increasingly vital for older adults. 

The scientific consensus today links optimal vitamin C status to several aging benefits:

• Collagen Synthesis: Vitamin C is an essential cofactor for producing collagen, the structural protein that maintains skin elasticity, bone density, and the integrity of blood vessels.
• Cardiovascular Protection: Prospective cohort studies indicate that healthy vitamin C levels are correlated with a lower risk of stroke, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. 
• Immune Resilience: While it won't prevent you from catching a cold, adequate cellular levels support overall immune cell function as the immune system naturally weakens over time.

When paired with traditional herbal medicines and a nutrient-dense diet, integrating targeted antioxidants helps build cellular resilience. While Linus Pauling’s advocacy for oral megadoses was flawed, his core intuition-that nutrition and cellular chemistry are foundational to managing how we age, remains a guiding pillar of modern longevity science.

Personal Note: I canceled my mahjong game Thursday and My Friday Bridge Game because I do not want to spread my cold virus to my Fellow Seniors Residents. I rested for most of the previous two days. However, what I missed because of my cold, is the plan to visit my great grandson, Graham King, last Friday afternoon. Maybe another time soon, perhaps on my coming 92nd birthday.