
High-dose Vitamin C - Can it Kill Cancer Cells?
What is high dose vitamin C?
Intravenous vitamin treatments are becoming very trendy. Drip clinics are popping up in big cities to boost energy, help with detox and hydrate athletes. Another use for IV vitamin therapy has been with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) at high doses for supporting patients with cancer. The idea that something so simple could contribute to better outcomes for patients with cancer is very exciting. But it’s also important to understand what the research does and does not show.
Here are some answers to the most common questions I get about vitamin C therapy for people with cancer. How does it work? Is it safe? What does the research say?
Will vitamin C infusions cure my cancer?
It is important to understand that vitamin C infusions are not a cure for cancer. Naturopathic doctors use this treatment to ease side effects of conventional care, slow the progression of cancer and improve quality of life.
How does vitamin C work?
Infusing vitamin C for cancer was first developed in the 1970’s by Linus Pauling – a Nobel Prize winner. He found that people that received oral and IV vitamin C had longer survival times than people who didn’t.
When ascorbic acid is infused and reaches high concentrations in the serum, it creates hydrogen peroxide. Healthy cells break down hydrogen peroxide by catalase to prevent any harm. Cancer cells don’t have catalase so they are susceptible to the damage (and therefore cell death) by hydrogen peroxide.
Tumour cells have a higher glucose need than our healthy cells – this is where a number of dietary recommendations of no-sugar stem from, but that’s another blog! Because of this requirement, the tumour cells absorb a higher level of the vitamin C that is infused. That means more hydrogen peroxide and theoretically, more tumour cell death.
Is infusing high dose vitamin C safe?
Research on Vitamin C has been ongoing, with variable quality and the results range. One finding is always the same – this treatment has an extremely high safety profile. During most infusions, the side effects are rare and mild. BUT symptoms you may experience with high dose vitamin C infusions are: fatigue, decreased appetite, headache, nausea and vomiting, increased thirst, abdominal cramps.
High doses of vitamin C are infused in sterile water – this means there is a large volume of fluid being introduced to the body. People with renal failure, kidney stones or showing low levels of the enzyme G6PD should not have this treatment. Simple blood work can assess whether this treatment is safe for you!
Where does the Vitamin C come from?
The ascorbic acid I use in clinic for infusions comes from tapioca.
Will vitamin C infusions impact how well chemo works?
There were concerns about the vitamin C acting as an antioxidant – and protecting the cancer cells – but with high dose infusions this is not the case. Some studies have found that infusions of vitamin C actually have “chemo-sensitizing” or “pro-oxidant” effects. This means that this treatment option is actually making the tumours more susceptible to chemotherapy, allowing treatment to be more effective.
Do vitamin C infusions work with every kind of cancer?
So far the research suggests no. Lymphoma, glioblastoma, bladder, prostate, liver, breast, cervix, ovary, colon and pancreas may be responsive to high dose vitamin C infusions.
One exciting trial recently showed which tissues were taking up the vitamin C. The purpose was to develop a way to track the vitamin C and see where it is ending up following the infusions. The study showed the vitamin C absorption by the liver, heart, lung, and gallbladder in mice. We can’t assume the same outcomes in humans but we are very excited that a method is being developed that will help to accurately track where the treatment is going.
Do you have a question about vitamin C infusions that I haven’t answered? Get in touch HERE!
Dr. Gair refers her patients to clinics around Ontario when this treatment is recommended. Check out https://www.ourwellnesslab.ca/iv-therapy where you can receive your intravenous vitamin C and have an in-person visit with Dr. Gair!
Resources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29367703https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24867961http://www.oicc.ca/uploads/patient-resource-iv-vitc.pdf