Vitamin C is one of the most versatile of all vitamins. It is well-known for its important role in skin, joint and bone health. Besides, vitamin C also has anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral, anti-hypertensive, anti-atherogenic, anti-histaminic, immuno-modulatory, ophthalmo-protective and airway-protective actions. It is also necessary for the synthesis of adrenaline and serotonin. Deficiency may cause scurvy. Rich sources are citrus fruits, vegetables (especially peppers), black currant and strawberries. Cooking and heat destroys vitamin C. Recommended daily allowance is 15-125 milligrams based on age and risk factors. (For more detailed information, please visit ISM’s searchable database: Nutraceutical Search.)
1990: National Cancer Institute 130 scientist symposium on Vitamin C: “Significant evidence of a reduced risk for cancers in persons with a higher intake of Vit C”
o Block, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (1991) 53:270s-282s.
Mega-dose Vit C can extend cancer patients life by as much as 6x.
o Murata, Medical tribune, July 22, 1981, and Hoffer, Pauling, J. Orthomolecular Medicine, Vol 5:3, 1990.
Vitamin C may block growth of tumors by destabilizing their ability to grow under oxygen-starved conditions.
o Goa, Ping et al (2007). HIF-Dependent Antitumorigenic Effect of Antioxidants In Vivo. Cancer Cell.12(3),230-8
Dietary Vit C reduces breast cancer risk (meta-analysis).
o Gandini, Eur J Cancer (2000);36:636-46.
Vit C reduces cancer risk and is especially effective in preventing lung, stomach, esophageal, breast, cervical, pancreatic and colon cancer.
o Am J Clin Nutr, 1992; Age Aging, 1993.
Lung cancer patients provided Vit C prior to, during and after radiation & chemotherapy had enhanced tumour destruction & significantly longer life-span.
o Jaakkola, Anticancer Research,(1992) 12, 599.
Increased intake of vitamin C from the diet, but not supplements, may slash the risk of mouth cancer by 48 per cent.
o Maserejian, NN, Giovannucci, E, Rosner, B, & Joshipura, K Prospective study of vitamins C, E, and A and carotenoids and risk of oral premalignant lesions in men. International Journal of Cancer, 120(5), 970-7.
A large 23 centre European study concludes that Vit C protects against cancers of the stomach and lower esophagus. At least 16 previous studies have shown Vit C to reduce the risk of stomach cancer.
o Mazda et al, Carcinogenesis 2006 27(11):2250-2257.