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Vitamin C jab slows growth of cancer
Injecting a large dose of vitamin C into mice started a chain reaction that destroyed cancer cells in mice, according to a research team at the National Institutes of Health. Brain, ovarian and pancreatic tumors were cut in half by the injection, and the scientists say the same approach could slow the advance of cancer in humans.
The researchers used a dose of four grams per kilo of body weight, far higher than could be achieved by diet alone. The vitamin mixes with the chemicals found in a tumor and creates hydrogen peroxide, killing the cancer cells. By injecting the vitamin C into the abdominal cavity of mice, the researchers recorded a 41 percent to 53 percent drop in tumor weight and growth.
"These pre-clinical data provide the first firm basis for advancing pharmacologic ascorbate in cancer treatment in humans," the scientists concluded.
- read the BBC report
Comments
By Anonymous | Posted 2:06pm | August 5, 2008
Sorry, but research in mice is not news, unless we are under a national imperative to cure cancer in mice. The gulf between the mouse-lab and the clinical setting is just too vast.
By Virginia | Posted 4:35pm | August 5, 2008
The whole idea of studying mice is that their metabolisms and other systems mimic corresponding systems in human beings. This is why they are used as standard testing subjects. Animals are selected for testing based on the similarity of reaction and processing between it and a human being.
By Anonymous | Posted 2:11pm | August 5, 2008
How interesting. see Dr. Frederick R. Klenner, "Observations on the Dose and Administration of Ascorbic Acid When Employed Beyond the Range of a Vitamin in Human Pathology, in the Jounal of Applied Nutrition, Vol. 23. N's. 3 & 4, Winter 1971. His is just one of many practitioners who used massive doses of Ascorbic Acid effectively. Your article is just the latest report on the effectiveness of Ascorbic Acid.
By Virginia | Posted 4:38pm | August 5, 2008
It's good to know that this successful research can be reproduced. It is the reproducibility of such successes that lead to the evolution of clinical studies into successful and commonly-used medical treatments.
By Anonymous | Posted 4:20pm | August 5, 2008
Such huge doses to an isolated abdominal tumor do not mimic exposure of a human solid tumor; , but the requirement to excrete such a whopping dose probably causes a washout or accelerated excretion of most water soluble vitamins at the same time, leaving too many other unmeasured variables to account for the results to claim it is from ascorbate alone.
By Virginia | Posted 4:44pm | August 5, 2008
Before making a judgement, I recommend reading the medical journal article about this research. Find out what the studies say in their results and conclusions about the metabolism of the vitamin C used. Taking a chemical by mouth is different from an injection. An intra-tumor injection would act differently from an intra-muscular, intravenous, or intra-peritoneal injection. Point of delivery of a chemical makes a difference in its effectiveness. This is why a saline IV is quicker to restore a person's hydration than simply drinking water or even Gatorade.
By Anonymous | Posted 4:54pm | August 5, 2008
I applaud all the research about the efficacy of vitamin C treatment of cancer tumors. The connection between vitamin C and cancer has been known at least since the 1970's. The continued research will produce more and more effective procedures and tools available to battle one of Humanity's most insidious and many-faced diseases.
By Anonymous | Posted 6:03am | August 6, 2008
As the CRUK spokesperson said - there is no evidence from clinical trials to support vitamin C as having any therapeutic efficacy as a cancer treatment.
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