Effect of ascorbic acid on the human electroencephalogram.

Controversy exists over whether ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in doses in excess of known physiological requirements has demonstrable biological effects. The present study reports that such megadoses of vitamin C do significantly effect an objective electrophysiological measure, i.e., electroencephalogram (EEG) driving responses to photic stimulation. Four thousand milligrams of vitamin C administered 27 and 3 hours prior to assessment produced an effect on the EEGs of 18 healthy adolescent human males that was significantly different from a placebo. Fifty milligrams of ascorbic acid administered in this manner did not produce an effect on the EEG significantly different from placebo administration.