High doses of vitamin C injected into the bloodstream may help fight cancer, a US study says. Scientists found that intravenous vitamin C in the form of ascorbate killed cancer cells in lab tests.

Scientists found that intravenous vitamin C in the form of ascorbate killed cancer cells in lab tests.
BBCnews.com, Vitamin C 'helps to fight cancer'

Alright, this doesn't mean that people with cancer should run out and start overdosing on Vitamin C. That's just foolish. This simply means that it may help to kill the cancer cells. This evidence apparently contradicts an earlier test done in th 1970's. Why? The researchers say that they used much higher levels of Vitamin C this time.

Well, Duh.

Vitamin C often contains something called ascorbate. Many cancer cells are in fact sensitive to this chemical. This chemical apparently led to the formation of hydrogen peroxide (mmm... fizzy) and that killed off the cells.

There is still overwhelming evidence that says that Vitamin C isn't really all that effective though. But, like many cancer treatments, it can be used in a cocktail like method and perhaps add a few extra perks to the whole concoction of cancer treatments. Of course, there is no evidence that this treatment will work on people. Many many drugs that work in labs don't work in humans because the lab is a perfect, controled environment where as the human body is most definately not.

I am still all for nano-tech to fight cancer, but this too is encouraging. It means that they are exploring some of the more natural and common drugs rather than the chemical/radioactive drugs that have quite harsh side effects.

Posted by Utopia at September 14, 2005 10:00 AM

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