So I visited my doctor for the 3rd time in 4 weeks, and after tests, he wrote out prescription for antimalarial drugs. For the 3rd time in a month!

Of course I objected, telling him I have treated malaria in August twice already. Of course he was aware, cos he knew of my previous visits. He asked me to avoid alcohol this time for atleast a week during and after treatment. I protested, telling him that l have not taken alcohol in 5 weeks. Infact, I take home made orange juice almost daily and take it with me even when I have to hang out with friends.

Aha! There in lies the problem, he says. Vitamin C according to him, had a negative effect on the drugs I was taking, rendering them less effective and less potent. How? He did not explain, but he told me to avoid Vitamin c in the he duration of my treatment.

Doctors in the house. Why is it so?

The simple explanation I can give is that oranges contain vitamin C which s an antioxidant and antioxidants generally function by moping up free radicals which are injurious to the body cells. These free radicals are however toxic to the malaria parasites in the body and are also formed from red blood cells through the use of your regular ACTs antimalarials

Therefore taking vitc while on ACT is like fire and water which eventually leads to zero effect because the free radicals that are learnt to kill the parasite in the body has been moped up by the vit c

That's how all these doctors and chemists will be doing trial and error with someones life, some are like Pastors. Once u mention something they use that thing as an excuse. If you weren't taking oranges now they will complain u aren't taking enough fruits lol

Ayetobi92:
The simple explanation I can give is that oranges contain vitamin C which s an antioxidant and antioxidants generally function by moping up free radicals which are injurious to the body cells. These free radicals are however toxic to the malaria parasites in the body and are also formed from red blood cells through the use of your regular ACTs antimalarials

Therefore taking vitc while on ACT is like fire and water which eventually leads to zero effect because the free radicals that are learnt to kill the parasite in the body has been moped up by the vit c

Thanks for your response.

So what happened to the argument that vitamin c boosts immunity?

zomoears:


Thanks for your response.

So what happened to the argument that vitamin c boosts immunity?

There is nothing wrong with the argument, only that the most ACT antimalarials have a course of three days and vitamin c intake will only need to be avoided for just this 3days to avoid the drug-drug interaction