Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has been explored as a supportive or alternative therapy for cancer for decades. The interest in high-dose vitamin C originated in the 1970s, primarily through the work of Linus Pauling and Ewan Cameron, who suggested that intravenous (IV) vitamin C could prolong survival in terminal cancer patients. Initial case reports and uncontrolled studies indicated possible benefits, but subsequent randomized controlled trials using oral vitamin C failed to show significant efficacy, leading to skepticism in the conventional medical community.

More recently, research has revisited vitamin C, particularly in high intravenous doses, which achieve blood concentrations unachievable with oral intake. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that high-dose vitamin C may selectively kill certain cancer cells, reduce tumor growth, and enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation by generating hydrogen peroxide in the extracellular space, causing oxidative stress to cancer cells. Early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated that IV vitamin C is generally safe and may improve quality of life or reduce chemotherapy side effects, but robust evidence of anti-cancer efficacy in humans is lacking.

In summary, the use of vitamin C as a cancer therapy is supported by some scientific investigation, especially preclinical and early clinical studies, but high-quality evidence from large, randomized human trials is insufficient. Therefore, while there is scientific interest and ongoing research, the current evidence base for vitamin C as a cancer treatment is low (rated 2/5).

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Other ingredients used for Cancer (natural therapy for)

Other health conditions supported by vitamin C

Products containing vitamin C

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Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (SynerPro)
Nature's Sunshine MultiVitamin & Mineral (Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
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Nature's Sunshine Nature's Harvest
Nature's Sunshine Nervous System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
Nature's Sunshine Nutri-Calm
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Nature's Sunshine Power Greens To-Go
Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Twenty-Four
Nature's Sunshine Solstic Immune
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Nature's Sunshine Super Supplemental
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Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C (1000 mg, Time Release)
Nature's Sunshine Vitamin C (1000 mg, Time Release)
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