Orthomolecular Truth

Vitamin C Synthesis in Mammals: A Deep Dive

1. Mammalian Synthesis: A Natural Defense

Most mammals possess an incredible biochemical ability: they synthesize their own vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the liver via a multi-step enzymatic pathway that converts glucose into vitamin C. This intrinsic production acts as a built-in defense system—supporting collagen formation, immune function, and oxidative stress protection—without the need for dietary intake.

Why it matters: This synthesis allows animals to upregulate production during illness, injury, or stress, giving them a physiological edge in survival and recovery.

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2. High Production in Goats: The Orthomolecular Standard

Goats are often cited in orthomolecular medicine as an ideal model for vitamin C production. A healthy adult goat can manufacture over 13,000 mg (13 grams) of vitamin C daily—and much more under stress, sometimes upwards of 100 grams per day.

Implication: This extraordinary capacity is believed to be a major factor behind their resilience to infections, injuries, and toxins. In orthomolecular circles, such natural production is the benchmark for what humans may need therapeutically, especially in high-stress or disease states.

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3. Evolutionary Exceptions: The Species That Lost It

A small group of mammals and some birds have lost this crucial ability due to a genetic mutation in the gene responsible for encoding L-gulonolactone oxidase (GULO)—an essential enzyme in the vitamin C synthesis pathway.

Species affected include:

Humans

Other primates (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans)

Guinea pigs

Some fruit bats

Certain bird species (e.g., red-vented bulbul, some passerines)

Result: These species must obtain vitamin C exclusively through diet. Without regular intake, they are vulnerable to scurvy, a condition caused by vitamin C deficiency that affects connective tissues, gums, skin, and immunity.

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4. Nutritional and Therapeutic Implications

The fact that most animals self-regulate vitamin C synthesis—especially in large, stress-adaptive quantities—has profound implications:

Orthomolecular Perspective: Humans may require far more vitamin C than the standard dietary recommendations suggest, especially in times of stress, illness, or environmental toxicity.

Therapeutic Dosing: This has led to the practice of high-dose vitamin C therapy, mimicking the stress-adaptive levels produced by animals like goats.

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Summary Insight

Nature equipped most mammals with the biochemical tools to produce their own robust supply of vitamin C. Humans are one of the few exceptions—biologically handicapped in this regard. Recognizing and compensating for this deficiency with conscious intake—particularly during stress—is a cornerstone of advanced health optimization and orthomolecular therapy.