Research
backs theory that vitamin C shrinks tumours
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Published: 28 March 2006
New research suggesting that vitamin C can be effective in
curing cancer will renew interest in the "alternative"
treatment for the terminal disease.
Three cancer patients who were given large intravenous doses
over a
period of several months had their lives extended and their
tumours
shrunk, doctors reported yesterday.
A 49-year-old man diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer in
1996 was
still alive and cancer-free nine years later, having declined
chemotherapy and radiotherapy in favour of regular infusions
of
vitamin C.
A 66-year-old woman with an aggressive lymphoma who had a
"dismal
prognosis" in 1995 was similarly treated and is still
alive 10 years
later. A 51-year-old woman with kidney cancer that spread
to her
lungs diagnosed in 1995 had a normal chest X-ray two years
later. The
findings were confirmed by pathologists. Although they do
not prove
the vitamin cured the cancer they do increase the "clinical
plausibility" of the idea, the researchers say.
Vitamin C therapy was first promoted by Linus Pauling, the
Nobel
prize winner, 30 years ago. Dr Pauling's claims sparked the
continuing boom in sales of vitamin C, but attempts to confirm
his
findings failed and high-dose vitamin C became an "alternative"
therapy.
The latest study, published in the Canadian Association's
Medical
Journal, could trigger renewed interest in Dr Pauling's claims.
Studies show that vitamin C is toxic to some cancer cells
but not to
normal cells. The problem has been delivering a high enough
dose.
The researchers say attempts to replicate Dr Pauling's work
failed
because they used oral doses of the drug which is rapidly
excreted.
However, injections achieve blood levels 25 times higher that
persist
for longer. At these very high doses, the blood level of vitamin
C is
high enough to selectively kill cancer cells.
Several clinical trials of vitamin C therapy are about to
start,
including one at McGill University, Montreal, the authors
say.
New research suggesting that vitamin C can be effective in
curing
cancer will renew interest in the "alternative"
treatment for the
terminal disease.
Three cancer patients who were given large intravenous doses
over a
period of several months had their lives extended and their
tumours
shrunk, doctors reported yesterday.
A 49-year-old man diagnosed with terminal bladder cancer in
1996 was
still alive and cancer-free nine years later, having declined
chemotherapy and radiotherapy in favour of regular infusions
of
vitamin C.
A 66-year-old woman with an aggressive lymphoma who had a
"dismal
prognosis" in 1995 was similarly treated and is still
alive 10 years
later. A 51-year-old woman with kidney cancer that spread
to her
lungs diagnosed in 1995 had a normal chest X-ray two years
later. The
findings were confirmed by pathologists. Although they do
not prove
the vitamin cured the cancer they do increase the "clinical
plausibility" of the idea, the researchers say.
Vitamin C therapy was first promoted by Linus Pauling, the
Nobel
prize winner, 30 years ago. Dr Pauling's claims sparked the
continuing boom in sales of vitamin C, but attempts to confirm
his
findings failed and high-dose vitamin C became an "alternative"
therapy.
The latest study, published in the Canadian Association's
Medical
Journal, could trigger renewed interest in Dr Pauling's claims.
Studies show that vitamin C is toxic to some cancer cells
but not to
normal cells. The problem has been delivering a high enough
dose.
The researchers say attempts to replicate Dr Pauling's work
failed
because they used oral doses of the drug which is rapidly
excreted.
However, injections achieve blood levels 25 times higher that
persist
for longer. At these very high doses, the blood level of vitamin
C is
high enough to selectively kill cancer cells.
Several clinical trials of vitamin C therapy are about to
start,
including one at McGill University, Montreal, the authors
say.
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