Vitamin C Research
IVC ,
Protocol ,
Tumor Study
IVC Tumor Study
Primary Anticancer Mechanism
The primary anticancer mechanism of vitamin C (Vc, also called ascorbic acid) is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation in cells. Normal cells have 10-100 folds of catalase (convert H2O2 to water and oxygen) higher than tumor1. Therefore, normal cells have higher tolerance of H2O2 toxicity than cancer cells.
Other Anticancer Functions of Vitamin C
• Vc is essential to ensure the efficient working of immune system, including of immunoglobulin synthesis, increasing the migration and chemotaxis of the leukocytes, activating phagocytosis and enhancing interferon production.
• Inactivation of carcinogens through the mixed function oxidases and protection against nitrate induced carcinogens.
• Balancing the disturbed sodium/potassium in cancer by removal of sodium via urine.
• Inhibiting prostaglandins of the 2-series to decrease the cancer cell proliferation.
• Stabilizing cancer suppressor gene, p53, to stop the cancer cell proliferation.
In animal tests, Vc showed strong anticancer effects:
Vc by oral and intravenous administrations in healthy people3:
Peak predicted urine concentrations of Vc from IVC were 140-fold higher than those from maximum oral doses. Therefore, IVC instead of oral Vc administration is the way to reach the plasma level to kill cancer cells.
1 mmol/L = 1000 μmol/L = 17.6 mg/dL;
1 μmol/L = 0.0176 mg/dL; 1 mg/dL= 56.82 μmol/L
The plasma Vc level reached by intravenous vitamin C (IVC).
Plasma Vc response on cancer patients by IVC
• Cancer patients often have below-normal plasma vitamin C4,6. In one of our studies, 14 out of 24 patients were ascorbate deficient prior to therapy, with 10 patients having no detectable vitamin C in their plasma6.
• In most cases, plasma Vc levels increased to near maximum
in 1~2 weeks of IVC on cancer patients.
Case Study of IVC on Cancer Treatment at The Center
• Case 1: In September 1995, shortly after diagnosis of a primary
tumor in the left kidney of a 52-year-old white female, a nephrectomy
was performed. Histology confirmed renal cell carcinoma. In September
1996, a chest x-ray film revealed 4 1- to 3-cm masses in her lungs. One
month later there were 8 1- to 3-cm masses in her lungs (7 in right lung,
1 in left). No new medical, radiation, or surgical therapies were
performed prior to her visit to our clinic in October 1996, when she
began IVC therapy. Her initial dose was 15 g, which increased to 65 g
after 2 weeks, two per week. She was also started on: N-acetyl
cysteine, 500 mg 1 p.o., QD; beta-1,3- glucan (a macrophage
stimulator), 2.5 mg 3 p.o. QD; fish oil (300 mg eicosatetraenoic acid,
200 mg docosahexaenoic acid), 1 p.o. TID; vitamin C, 9 g p.o. QD; betacarotene,
25,000 lU. 1 p.o. BID; L-threonine, 500 mg p.o. QD (for a
deficiency revealed by laboratory testing of serum); Bacillus
laterosporus, 280 mg, 2 p.o. QD for intestinal Candida albicans, inositol hexaniacinate complex (500 mg niacin, 100 mcg chromium) 2 p.o. QD,
and a no-refined-sugar diet. She continued IAA treatments until June
1997 when another chest x-ray film revealed resolution of 7 of the 8
masses, and reduction in the size of the 8th. According to the medical
imaging report, "The nodular infiltrates seen previously in the right lung
and overlying the heart are no longer evident and the nodular infiltrate
seen in left upper lung field has shown marked interval decrease in size
and only vague suggestion of an approximately 1 cm density." The
patient discontinued IAA treatments in June 1997. She has continued on
an oral nutritional support program since that time, and 4 years later
was well with no evidence of progression2.
• Case 2: In December 1985, a mass occupying the lower pole of the
right kidney was discovered in a 70-year-old white male. Pathology of
the mass after a radical nephrectomy confirmed renal cell carcinoma. In
March 1986 the patient was seen in our clinic. He was started on IVC,
30 g twice per week. In April 1986, six weeks after the x-ray film and CT
scan studies, the oncologist's report stated, ". . . the patient returns feeling well. His exam is totally normal. His chest x-ray shows a
dramatic improvement in pulmonary nodules compared to six weeks
ago. The periaortic lymphadenopathy is completely resolved... either he
has had a viral infection with pulmonary lesions with lymphadenopathy
that has resolved or (2) he really did have recurrent kidney cancer which
is responding to your vitamin C therapy." The oncology report in July
1996 stated, "there is no evidence of progressive cancer. He looks well .
. . chest x-ray today is totally normal. The pulmonary nodules are
completely gone. There is no evidence of lung metastasis, liver
metastasis or lymph node metastasis today, whatsoever." In 1986 the
patient received 30 g infusions twice-weekly for 7 months. The
treatments were then reduced to once per week for 8 more months. For
an additional 6 months he received weekly, 15 g IAA infusions. The
patient continued well, and was seen periodically at our clinic until early
1997 when he died, cancer-free, at age 82, 12 years after diagnosis.
• Case 3: A 55 year old woman with stage-IIIC papillary
adenocarcinoma of the ovary and an initial CA-125 of 999.
underwent surgery followed by six cycles of chemotherapy (paclitaxel,
carboplatin) combined with oral and parenteral ascorbate. Ascorbate
infusion began at 15 grams twice weekly and increased to 60
twice weekly. Plasma ascorbate levels above 200 mg/dL were achieved
during infusion. After six weeks, ascorbate treatment continued for
year, after which patient reduced infusions to once every two
Patient also supplemented with vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, vitamin
beta-carotene, and vitamin A. After over 40 months from initial diagnosis
and remains on ascorbate infusions, the patient’s all CT and PET
are negative for disease, and her CA-125 levels remain normal.
Safety of IVC
• IVC has been used for three decades here at The Center. There
have been no serious complications. The most common adverse
events reported were nausea, edema, and dry mouth or skin; and
these were generally minor5,6.
• Although many physicians worry that large doses of vitamin C
may cause kidney stones, we have rarely seen the phenomenon5.
Kidney stones are formed mostly in alkaline urine (calcium
oxalate), while high dose of ascorbate infusion make the urine
acidic, thus preventing stone formation. There are various
studies found no evidence of ascorbate increasing the risk of
kidney stone formation1. However, for those patients with
kidney stone history, more care should be taken on IVC
treatment6.
• For people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
deficiency, high dose of Vc may be at risk of developing
hemolysis. Therefore, we also check our patients for G6PD
deficiency before IVC at the Center5,6.
• Because vitamin C enhances iron absorption, iron overload must
be ruled out5.
• Because ascorbate is a chelating agent, some individuals may
experience shaking due to low serum calcium. This is treated by
a slow (1 cc per minute) intravenous push of 10 cc's of calcium
gluconate2.
• Another concern of IVC is a rapid tumor hemorrhage and
necrosis. This can be avoided by starting the small dose first. A
typical protocol will consist of the following infusions:
Week 1: 15g, 25g, 50g infusion, 3 times/week, according to plasma C level.
Week 2 and later: 25g or 50g infusion per day, 3 times/week, according to plasma C
level.
The dose is then adjusted to achieve transient plasma concentrations
near 400 mg/dL, 3 infusions per week2.
References
1. Michael J. González et al: Orthomolecular Oncology Review: Ascorbic Acid and Cancer 25 years Later. Integrative Cancer Therapies 4(1); 2005
pp.32-44
2. http://brightspot.org/cresearch/intravenousc2.shtml
3. Padayatty SJ: Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Apr 6;140(7):533-7.
4. Anthony et al, Br J Cancer 46 : 354, 1982
5. http://brightspot.org/cresearch/ivccancerpt.shtml
6. Hugh D. Riordan et al: A Pilot Clinical Study of Continuous Intravenous Ascorbate in Terminal Cancer Patients. PR Health Sci J. 2005; 24(4):269-
276.
7. Drisko JA, Chapman J, Hunter VJ. The use of antioxidants with first-line chemotherapy in two cases of ovarian cancer. Am J Coll Nutr 22: 118- 123 (2003).
