Intravenous Vitamin C Kills Cancer Cells

Intravenous Vitamin C Kills Cancer Cells

BETHESDA, Md.--Ascorbic acid can selectively kill cancer cells whendelivered intravenously at high concentrations, according to new research fromthe National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Iowa and the Food andDrug Administration (FDA).

Ten cancer and four normal cell types were treated with high concentrationsof ascorbate for one hour. Subsequent formation of hydrogen peroxide causeddeath of cancer cells occurred by apoptosis and pyknosis/necrosis, independentlyof metal chelators, whereas normal cells were unaffected by the treatment. Celldeath from hydrogen peroxide added to cells was identical to that found whenhydrogen peroxide was generated by ascorbate treatment. Although ascorbate addedto the cell culture generated hydrogen peroxide, ascorbate added directly toblood generated no detectable hydrogen peroxide and only trace detectableascorbate radicals.

The researchers concluded these data indicate ascorbate at concentrationsachieved only by intravenous administration may be a pro-drug for formation ofhydrogen peroxide, and blood can be a delivery system of the pro-drug totissues. In addition, the researchers noted the findings suggest a role forintravenous ascorbic acid in cancer treatment, and have unexpectedimplications for treatment of infections where hydrogen peroxide may bebeneficial.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy ofSciences www.pnas.org (102, 38:13604-09, 2005).