2014-02-28 10:47:33
Intravenous (IV) Vitamin C is a popular adjunct treatment in cancer patients that is offered by many integrative practitioners, including naturopathic doctors as well as some medical doctors. Its efficacy has been in question over the years despite much supportive research. A recently published study in the journal Science Translational Medicine showed that vitamin c when supplied directly to ovarian cancer cells of both mouse and human killed off the cancerous cells while not affecting normal ones.(1) Their research also found when IV vitamin c was given in conjunction with chemotherapy in women with cervical cancer as well as in those with ovarian cancer, it decreased unwanted toxic side effects. Other studies including some case studies also show benefit, safety and tolerability of intravenous vitamin c when given alone as well as in conjunction with chemotherapy.(2, 3, 4) Larger trials need to be conducted, however, funding for such research isn’t easily accessible. In the interim cancer patients should consider the addition of intravenous vitamin C in their treatment plan and discuss with their healthcare team if this adjunct treatment might be an option for them.
References
1. Ma Y, Chapman J, Levine M, Polireddy K, Drisko J, Chen Q. High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Sci Transl Med. 2014; 5(6): 222.
2. Padayatty SJ, Riordan HD, Hewitt SM, Katz A, Hoffer J, Levine M. Intravenously administered vitamin C as cancer therapy: three cases. CMAJ. 2006; 174(7):939.
3. Stephenson CM, Levin RD, Spector T, Lis CG. Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of high-dose intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with advanced cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2013; 72(1):139-46.
4. Vollbracht C, Schneider B, Leendert V, Weiss G, Auerbach L, Beuth J. Intravenous vitamin C administration improves quality of life in breast cancer patients during chemo-/radiotherapy and aftercare: results of a retrospective, multicentre, epidemiological cohort study in Germany. In Vivo. 2011; 25(6):983-90.