Vitamin C (ascorbate, ascorbic acid) is a major water-soluble antioxidant that also increases extracellular collagen production and is important for proper immune cell functioning. It also plays key roles in L-carnitine synthesis, cholesterol metabolism, cytochrome P-450 activity, and neurotransmitter synthesis. At doses up to 25gm Vitamin C acts primarily as an antioxidant. However, at doses higher than 25gm, it acts as a pro-oxidant, which accounts for its benefit in treating cancer.

Intravenous Vitamin C [IVC] use has increased recently among integrative and orthomolecular medicine practitioners: a survey of roughly 300 practitioners conducted between 2006 and 2008 indicated that roughly ten thousand patients received IVC, at an average dose of 0.5 g/kg, without significant ill effects.

IVC has a variety of possible applications in practice, such as:

 

  1. Combating infections caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses.
  2. Immune boosting effect: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, allergies, and chronic pain.
  3. Auto Immune conditions.
  4. Detoxification of toxic metals.
  5. Adjunctive use in cancer care. Vitamin C was first suggested as a tool for cancer treatment in the 1950’s: its role in collagen production and protection led scientists to hypothesize that ascorbate replenishment would protect normal tissue from tumour invasiveness and metastasis. Also, since cancer patients are often depleted of vitamin C, replenishment may improve immune system function and enhance patient health and well-being.

The rationales for using intravenous ascorbate infusions (IVC) to treat cancer, can be summarized as follows:

 

  • Plasma ascorbate concentrations in the millimolar range can be safely achieved with IVC infusions.
  • At millimolar concentrations, ascorbate is preferentially toxic to cancer cells and is able to inhibit angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels to feed the cancer).
  • Vitamin C can accumulate in tumours at doses that trigger “redox cycling”, which cause a build-up of hydrogen peroxide, which is preferentially toxic toward tumour cells often leading to autophagy or apoptosis, causing reduction in tumour growth.
  • Published case studies report anti-cancer efficacy, improved patient well-being, less fatigue, reduction in nausea and vomiting, improved appetite, reductions in depression and fewer sleep disorders.
  • IVC reduces inflammation which can be measured by a reduction in CRP and cytokines.
  • Phase I clinical studies indicate that IVC can be administered safely with relatively few adverse effects.
  • Cancer patients are often depleted of vitamin C, and IVC provides an efficient means of restoring tissue stores.

Precautions

A variety of laboratory studies suggest that, at high concentrations, ascorbate does not interfere with chemotherapy or irradiation and may enhance efficacy in some situations.

Evidence indicates that patients who show no prior signs or history of renal malfunction are unlikely to suffer ill effects to their renal systems, as a result of intravenous ascorbate.

It is recommended that treatment start at a low dose and be carried out using slow “drip” infusion. Fatal Haemolysis can occur if a patient has glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. It is thus recommended that G6PD levels be assessed prior to the onset of therapy.