Research has found that Intravenous Vitamin C administration in the form of Ascorbate was tested on nine cancer cell lines and four normal cell lines. The vitamin C did not have any effect or toxicity in normal cell lines but Killed 50% of cancer cells in the tissue culture animal cell line and almost 100% sensitive on lymphoma cell lines.
Dr. Mark Levine and colleagues from Institute of Health, Maryland has reported the finding of their new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The effective dose that killed the cancer cells were about 4 millimoles intravenously. The effect of Ascorbate on the cells is found by a chemical reaction in which the hydrogen peroxide produced toxicity to the cells. It is also proved earlier that Vitamin C destroys cancer cells by inducing Apoptosis (Programmed Cell death).Dr. Mark Levine said that the anticancer effect of Ascorbate has to be tested on patients to find its efficacy and side effects, has many substances that have been shown to kill cancer cells in the lab but failed to fulfill that promise when tested in people. Henry Scowcroft, Senior Officer at Cancer Research UK, is not sure about the effect of Vitamin C on patients as the research is only on its initial stages. Dr. Mark Levine said, “But we do know that eating a healthy, balanced diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, is an effective way to reduce the risk of getting cancer in the first place."
