Improved Connective Tissue Integrity, and Superior Metabolic Flexibility

EPL- INFORMATION FOR YOUR BUILDING SOUL

While Linus Pauling's pioneering work on Vitamin C laid critical groundwork, particularly in the realm of orthomolecular medicine, his model lacked integration with several essential physiological and metabolic mechanisms that modern researchers have since explored more deeply.

Subsequent scientists — notably Dr. Thomas Levy and Billie J. Sahley — have extended Pauling’s insights into more applied domains, including neurochemistry, immunomodulation, and metabolic resilience. However, a crucial omission in Pauling’s framework was the lack of consideration for cortisol-mediated exercise-induced stress as a necessary cofactor for optimal Vitamin C utilization.

The Missing Link: Cortisol and Gluconeogenesis

Vitamin C does not act in isolation. Its role in enzymatic hydroxylation, antioxidant cycling, and immune function is amplified under metabolic stress, particularly during exercise-induced cortisol release. Cortisol not only mobilizes Vitamin C into peripheral tissues but also drives gluconeogenesis (GNG), a critical metabolic state wherein the body preferentially fuels repair, adaptation, and endogenous antioxidant activity. Without this stress-induced activation, high-dose Vitamin C may lack directionality or, worse, disrupt redox balance, particularly in sedentary or metabolically unprimed individuals.

Collagen Synthesis and Amino Acid Synergy

Pauling’s own peptide research makes the omission of amino acid synergy (notably glycine, proline, and lysine) somewhat ironic. These amino acids, along with high-dose Vitamin C and essential cofactors like magnesium, zinc, and B-complex vitamins, are fundamental to collagen trifolding and structural protein synthesis. Modern orthomolecular practice increasingly recognizes this biochemical symphony — where collagen matrix repair, hormone modulation, and neurotransmitter balance are co-regulated by nutrient-amino acid interactions.

Sports Science, Stress Adaptation & Amino Acid Therapy

Contemporary nutritional science — particularly sports physiology and neuroadaptive amino acid therapy — illustrates the necessity of integrating micronutrients with macronutrient cycling, protein-sparing strategies, and stress-adaptive hormetic stimuli. Pauling’s era did not have the benefit of this multidisciplinary integration, and in fairness, pharmaceutical and institutional resistance likely stifled broader dissemination of these synergistic protocols.

Clinical Relevance

In clinical and coaching practice, we have observed that patients or clients receiving high-dose Vitamin C in isolation often experience limited or paradoxical results unless paired with:

Periodic fasting-mimicking protocols

Cortisol-mediated exercise (e.g., long-duration walking or resistance training)

Proper amino acid ratios and micronutrient support

Stress adaptation techniques (cold exposure, breath work, etc.)

Without such integration, orthomolecular strategies can risk being misapplied or misunderstood. With it, the effects can be profound — including enhanced immunity, improved connective tissue integrity, and superior metabolic flexibility.