Intravenous Vitamin C and
Evidence-Informed Medicine
- Adjunct, not a replacement
- Studied since 1971
- Use with chemotherapy
Back in 1971
The research of Dr. Linus Pauling PhD and Dr. Ewen Cameron, MD, was what first drew attention to IV vitamin C in cancer care, back in 1971.
Subsequent trials have had mixed results, and research into intravenous vitamin C as an additive treatment alongside conventional cancer therapy continues.
At our clinic it is offered as an adjunct to, never a replacement for, the treatment plan directed by your oncology team. We do not claim that intravenous vitamin C improves survival or reduces recurrence, and encourage you to discuss your specific prognosis with your oncologist.
Mechanisms of action
There are some studies evaluating the use of vitamin C with conventional treatments in ovarian, breast and pancreatic cancer that have reported the vitamin C to be generally well tolerated, and that it may reduce the side effects of conventional treatments and improve quality of life. Laboratory research has explored several possible mechanisms of action. These are cellular and animal-model findings, not proof of clinical benefit in patients:
- Use with chemotherapy
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has been tested on various animal tissues in cultures, in combination with various chemotherapeutic drugs, with mixed results. Some studies have shown adverse responses, and a few chemotherapeutic drugs are contraindicated with IV vitamin C therapy. Always tell your oncology team about any therapy you are considering.
- Tumour growth (laboratory findings)
- In laboratory studies, vitamin C appears to inhibit the activity of certain enzymes that tumours need to grow, possibly by promoting collagen formation. Whether this has any effect in patients has not been established.
- Hydrogen peroxide (laboratory findings)
- In laboratory studies, large doses of vitamin C increase hydrogen peroxide production. Healthy cells can neutralise it with their own anti-oxidants, while many of the cancer cells studied could not and were damaged. These findings help explain how vitamin C may work. They are not proof of benefit in patients.
Research
Intravenous Vitamin C and Evidence-Informed Medicine
- Chen, Q., Espey, M. G., Krishna, M. C., Mitchell, J. B., Corpe, C. P., Buettner, G. R., … Levine, M. (2005). Pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations selectively kill cancer cells: action as a pro-drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to tissues. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(38), 13604–9. doi:10.1073/pnas.0506390102
- Pathi, S. S., Lei, P., Sreevalsan, S., Chadalapaka, G., Jutooru, I., & Safe, S. (2011). Pharmacologic doses of ascorbic acid repress specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors and Sp-regulated genes in colon cancer cells. Nutrition and Cancer, 63(7), 1133–42. doi:10.1080/01635581.2011.605984
- Chen, Q., Espey, M. G., Sun, A. Y., Lee, J.-H., Krishna, M. C., Shacter, E., … Levine, M. (2007). Ascorbate in pharmacologic concentrations selectively generates ascorbate radical and hydrogen peroxide in extracellular fluid in vivo. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 104(21), 8749–54. doi:10.1073/pnas.0702854104
- Chen, Q., Espey, M. G., Sun, A. Y., Pooput, C., Kirk, K. L., Krishna, M. C., … Levine, M. (2008). Pharmacologic doses of ascorbate act as a prooxidant and decrease growth of aggressive tumor xenografts in mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(32), 11105–9. doi:10.1073/pnas.0804226105
- Hoffer, L. J., Levine, M., Assouline, S., Melnychuk, D., Padayatty, S. J., Rosadiuk, K., … Miller, W. H. (2008). Phase I clinical trial of i.v. ascorbic acid in advanced malignancy. Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology / ESMO, 19(11), 1969–74. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdn377
- Monti, D. a, Mitchell, E., Bazzan, A. J., Littman, S., Zabrecky, G., Yeo, C. J., … Levine, M. (2012). Phase I evaluation of intravenous ascorbic acid in combination with gemcitabine and erlotinib in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. PloS One, 7(1), e29794. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029794
- Welsh, J. L., Wagner, B. a, Van’t Erve, T. J., Zehr, P. S., Berg, D. J., Halfdanarson, T. R., … Cullen, J. J. (2013). Pharmacological ascorbate with gemcitabine for the control of metastatic and node-positive pancreatic cancer (PACMAN): results from a phase I clinical trial. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 71(3), 765–75. doi:10.1007/s00280-013-2070-8
- Vollbracht, C., Schneider, B., Leendert, V., Weiss, G., Auerbach, L., & Beuth, J. (2011). Intravenous Vitamin C Administration Improves Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients during Chemo-/Radiotherapy and Aftercare: Results of a Retrospective, Multicentre, Epidemiological Cohort Study in Germany. In Vivo (Athens, Greece), 25(6), 983–990. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22021693
- Ma, Y., Chapman, J., Levine, M., Polireddy, K., Drisko, J., & Chen, Q. (2014). High-dose parenteral ascorbate enhanced chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Science Translational Medicine, 6(222), 222ra18. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3007154
Before you book
Common questions
How do I book an appointment?
- Choose the service on our appointments page.
- Click the picture or name to book your appointment.
We offer both Naturopathic and Nurse Practitioner services. Please be sure to select the correct practitioner when booking. If you have any questions, please call our office at 705.586.7873.
Which practitioners can I book with?
- Dr. Allan Price, B.Sc., ND
Naturopathic Doctor, Medical Director - Dr. Tara O’Brien, H.B.Sc., ND
Naturopathic Doctor - Phil Beauchamp, NP
Nurse Practitioner - Dr. Megan Brousseau, HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor
Each takes bookings through their own online schedule. You can read about them on our about page, or go straight to appointments.
What happens at a first appointment?
When you visit Pure Wellness, your health care provider will complete a full assessment of your health and medical history so that any condition you are suffering from can be addressed in an appropriate manner.
When is the clinic open?
- Monday – Thursday: 9am – 5pm
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed
Our other practitioners have availabilities outside of these listed hours. Please visit their websites or contact them directly for more information.
Where is the clinic?
1933 Regent Street, Unit #10, Sudbury, ON P3E 5R2. We are located on the OUTSIDE of SouthRidge Mall.
Contact us for anything else.
Alongside your conventional treatment
Speak to Dr. Price
The cancer care clinic is supervised by Dr. Allan Price, B.Sc., ND, and books through his own online schedule. You can also call 705.586.7873.