Vitamin C confirmed to kill cancer cells

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant effective against cancer. Cancer cells metabolize anaerobically (without oxygen) and so produce no antioxidant enzymes. This makes them unable to metabolize the antioxidant activities of vitamin C thus suffocating their means of energy production.
High dose IV vitamin C selectively targets cancer cells while providing healthy cells protection against oxidative stress.
Vitamin C also increases intracellular production of hydrogen peroxide which selectively destroys cancer cells due to their relative deficiency of the enzyme catalase. Catalase metabolizes Hydrogen peroxide into water and free oxygen in healthy cells but is absent in cancer cells.

1) Tumor cells are more susceptible to the effects of high-dose, ascorbate-induced peroxidation products because of a relative catalase deficiency.

2) Concentrations of ascorbate high enough to kill tumor cells likely can be achieved in humans.

Researchers found that diets high in vitamin C significantly reduce the risk of mouth, throat, stomach, and pancreas cancers. They have also been found to reduce breast, cervix, and rectum cancers. Research shows that a combination of both vitamin C and beta-carotene are important factors in reducing your risk for cancer. It is best to eat foods high in Vitamin C whenever possible, and only take supplements when in need or due to travel.

Foods rich in Vitamin C are:

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cauliflower
  • Greens (collard, mustard, or turnip)
  • Kale
  • Kiwi
  • Mango
  • Papaya
  • Peppers, sweet green or red
  • Potato, white or sweet
  • Strawberries
  • Tomato's and Tomato Juice

Neil H. Riordan PhD. commented on the study, "It is gratifying to have our research on vitamin C and cancer confirmed by scientists at the prestigious National Institutes of Health."

Listed below are several, peer reviewed references regarding vitamin C as it pertains to the treatment of cancer.

Pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations selectively kill cancer cells: Action as a pro-drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to tissues Qi Chen *, , Michael Graham Espey , Murali C. Krishna , James B. Mitchell , Christopher P. Corpe *, Garry R. Buettner , Emily Shacter , and Mark Levine *,
*Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1101; and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892 PNAS | September 20, 2005 | vol. 102 | no. 38 | 13604-13609

Orthomolecular Oncology Review: Ascorbic Acid and Cancer 25 years Later
By Michael J. Gonzlez, Jorge R. Miranda-Massari, Edna M. Mora, Angelik
Guzmn, Neil H. Riordan, Hugh D. Riordan, Joseph J. Casciari, James A. Jackson, and Angel RomFranco, from Integrative Cancer Therapies 4(1); 2005 pp.32-44

Intravenous Ascorbic Acid: Protocol for its Application and Use
By Hugh D. Riordan, Ronald E. Hunninghake, Neil H. Riordan, James A. Jackson, Xiao LongMeng, Paul Taylor, etal, from Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal (2003) 22:3, 287-290

The Effect of Alternating Magnetic Field Exposure and Vitamin C on Cancer Cells
By N. Mikirova, J.A. Jackson, J.P. Casciari and H.D. Riordan, from Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (2001) 3, 177-182

Cytotoxicity of Ascorbate, Lipoic Acid, and Other Antioxidants In Hollow Fibre In Vitro Tumours
By J.P. Casciari, N.H. Riordan, T.L. Schmidt, XL Meng, J.A. Jackson and H.D. Riordan, from British Journal of Cancer (2001) 84:11, 1544-1550

Clinical and Experimental Experiences with Intravenous Vitamin C
By N.H. Riordan, H.D. Riordan, J.A. Jackson and J.P. Casciari, from Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (2000) 15:4, 201-213

Different Fatty Acid Composition Between Normal and Malignant Cell Lines
By X.L. Meng, N.H. Riordan, H.D. Riordan, J.A. Jackson, et al, from BioMedicina, (1999) 2:4, 5-7

Rethinking Vitamin C and Cancer: An Update on Nutritional Oncology
By M.J. Gonzalez, E. Mora, N.H. Riordan, H.D. Riordan and P. Mojica, from Cancer Prevention International (1998) 3, 215-224
Intravenous Ascorbate as a Chemotherapeutic and Biologic Response Modifying Agent
Bio-Communications Research Institute (1997)

Intravenous Vitamin C in a Terminal Cancer Patient
By N.H. Riordan, J.A. Jackson and H.D. Riordan, from Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (1996) 11, 80-82

High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C and Long-Time Survival of a Patient with Cancer of Head of the Pancreas
By J.A. Jackson, H.D. Riordan, R.E. Hunninghake and N.H. Riordan, from Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (1995) 10, 87-88

Intravenous Ascorbate as a Tumor Cytotoxic Chemotherapeutic Agent
By N.H. Riordan, H.D. Riordan, X. Meng, Y. Li and J.A. Jackson, from Medical Hypotheses (1995) 44, 207-213
Case Study: High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C in the Treatment of a Patient with

Adenocarcinoma of the Kidney
By H.D. Riordan, J.A. Jackson and Mavis Schultz, from Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine (1990) 5:1, 5-7