Vitamin C in Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Epidemiological evidence shows that diets that are rich in vitamin C are associated with lower incidence of ctmcer and cardiovascular disease. However, such diets are rich in fruits and vegetables, and thus a wide variety of other potentially protective factors studies of 8-hydroxyguanine excretion as a marker of oxidative damage to DNA do not provide evidence of a protective effect of vitamin C per se, except in people whose intake is low (Halliwell, 2001). 

As discussed in Section 13.3.6, ascorbate may act to inhibit the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines from nitrite and dietary amines, and thus reduce the risk of cancer. There is some evidence that vitamin C supplements are protective against the development of gastric cancer. 

A number of studies have reported low ascorbate status in patients with advanced cancer - perhaps tm unsurprising finding in seriously ill patients. However, there is also some evidence that a number of tumors can accumulate ascorbate at the expense of the host. Cameron and Pauling (1974a, 1974b) published a lengthy review of the supposed roles of ascorbate in enhancing host resistance to cancer, tmd su ested, on the basis of an uncontrolled open trial in terminally ill patients, that 10-g daily doses of vitamin C resulted in 

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Thus, attention can be drawn to such therapies as megadoses of vitamin C, Essiac tea, shark cartilage, and elimination of parasitic invaders. More will be further described in the subsequent sections. We particularly recall the works of Ralph W. Moss (1992, 1998), Cancer Therapy The Independent Consumer s Guide to Non-Toxic Treatment and Prevention and Herbs against Cancer History and Controversy, both of which furnish the pros and cons. 

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