-On-Fi htin?- enne-Fli oxygen-on-nucleic-acids-and-proteins-
On-F s it ne Swine Flu thas been known for several years. It
‘To the Editor: a ‘leads to inactivation of viryses and

The news article: “Researchers Find contributes to the ‘control of. viral

_Large-Doses_of-Vitamin-C-May-Dam-- diseases —by—vitamin—C-—It—has—been
age Gene Material” (May 20) describes evident that animals have some mech-
observations by a research ‘team in. anism.to,protect their genetic material
_the Cancer Research Center_of the against this sort_of damage. For_¢ eX-_

—“University_of British Columbia_on the -ample,_the mouse_shows.a ‘low_muta-_

mutagenic action of ascorbic acid, tion rate, even though it manufactures
metal ions and oxygen, and quotes ' vitamin C in its own cells at a rate
one of the imvestigators ae Suggesting i f-nineteer”
that - should - "a! d—massive- “grams of the- vitamin-per~day- for &-
doses of vitaniin C.” I have advocated man. It is Jikely that human beings

the use-of-vitamin. Cin: amounts of have-the same protective mechanism, |

   

several grams per day to prevent Or and that there is Jittle danger of harm-

a the corto ane hi la - ful effects from ingesting the amounts
ectious diseases, Inc's ing influenza, of vitamin C, several grams per day,

_and I think that it may be of impor- that most animal synthesize for them-_

tance in relation to the expected epi- =)... Nee DATING.
demic of swine: flu that people™ not Selves ---—-__ UNS ate of
be: discouraged -from_making . proper Linus Pauling - Institute of .

Science and Medicine °

use of ‘this -valuable - substance. - The . .
-action of ascorbic acid, metal ions and Menlo Park, Calif, May 21, 1976