Intravenous Ascorbic Acid Therapy (High Dose Vitamin C IV)
Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid (AA) was first researched as an anti-cancer agent by Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Linus Pauling, Ph.D. and Dr. Ewan Cameron, MD. Their first clinical trial began in 1971, and the results of this and other research were published in the book “Cancer and Vitamin C” in 1979. In their clinical trial, they found a four-fold increase in survival time by those individuals treated with 10,000 mg of AA intravenously.
Why Intravenous Versus Oral Dosing of Ascorbic Acid?
Oral AA is absorbed through the intestinal lumen in an energy and dose-dependent process. At Vitamin C doses over 2g orally, less than 20% is absorbed. The result is a large quantity of Vitamin C in the intestinal tract, which brings water with it leading to Osmotic effects in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to gastrointestinal upsets and diarrhea. Recent research has shown that high doses of vitamin C (25g-100g )have significant cytotoxic effects. These doses can only be achieved by intravenous administration.
The Mechanism of Action of Vitamin C in Cancer
Vitamin C is an essential extracellular anti-oxidant and plays a role in a host of biochemical reactions in the body. Vitamin C has been validated as supportive therapy in case studies, Preclinical trials and cancer cell research. These studies show that vitamin C acts in the following ways: Selective Cytotoxicity (cancer cell killing) Effect – vitamin c in high doses leads to the production of large amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the connective tissue of the body. Hydrogen peroxide is an essential oxidative molecule involved in many immune reactions in the body. In healthy cells, the hydrogen peroxide is absorbed and then quenched with intra-cellular anti-oxidants. Still, cancer cells often lack sufficient levels of anti-oxidants, so that hydrogen peroxide will build up. As levels of hydrogen peroxide rise in cancer cells, they eventually go through apoptosis (programmed cell death).
- Selective Cytotoxicity (cancer cell killing) Effect – vitamin c in high doses, vitamin C produces large amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the body’s connective tissue. Hydrogen peroxide is an essential oxidative molecule involved in many immune reactions in the body. In healthy cells, the hydrogen peroxide is absorbed and then quenched with intra-cellular anti-oxidants. Still, cancer cells often lack sufficient levels of anti-oxidants, so that hydrogen peroxide will build up. As levels of hydrogen peroxide rise in cancer cells, they eventually go through apoptosis (programmed cell death). Inhibition of Tumor Growth and Metastasis – most tumours require the activity of various enzymes to invade and metastasize. Ascorbic Acid inhibits the activity of these enzymes and promotes the production of collagen, which may play a role in stabilizing the tumour and preventing local tissue invasion.
- Inhibition of Tumor Growth and Metastasis – most tumours require the activity of various enzymes to invade and metastasize. Ascorbic Acid inhibits the activity of these enzymes and promotes the production of collagen, which may play a role in stabilizing the tumour and preventing local tissue invasion. Chemosensitization – Ascorbic Acid has been tested in tissue cultures and animal models with many different chemotherapeutics to evaluate a combined effect on tumours. Most well-designed trials have shown a generally positive enhancement of chemotherapeutic success in studies combining chemotherapy with Ascorbic Acid. Only a few select studies show a negative interaction, and we avoid concomitant therapy in those cases.
- Chemosensitization – Ascorbic Acid has been tested in tissue cultures and animal models with many different chemotherapeutics to evaluate a combined effect on tumours. Most well-designed trials have shown a generally positive enhancement of chemotherapeutic success in studies combining chemotherapy with Ascorbic Acid. Only a few select studies show a negative interaction, and we avoid concomitant therapy in those cases. ( copied from IVIT Course approved by CONO)