Vitamin C and Cancer

Annekathryn Goodman; Annekathryn Goodman

doi:10.3934/medsci.2016.1.41

AIMS Medical Science

2016, Volume 3, Issue 1: 41-51. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2016.1.41

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Review

Vitamin C and Cancer

Annekathryn Goodman ^,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Yawkey 9E, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114

Received: 18 October 2015 Accepted: 15 December 2015 Published: 27 December 2015

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid has been proposed as an anticancer agent, as an intervention to reduce cancer incidence, and also as a medication to reduce cancer treatment-related side effects. While there has been significant basic science research that has evaluated the potential tumoricidal mechanisms of action, clinical studies have been underpowered, retrospective, or poorly designed. Current systematic reviews have suggested that the outcome data from vitamin C therapy is limited. There is an important need for prospective clinical trials and pharmacologic studies to fully evaluate the potential of vitamin C as an anticancer agent.
- vitamin C,
- ascorbic acid,
- complementary and alternative therapy,
- cancer therapeutics
Citation: Annekathryn Goodman. Vitamin C and Cancer[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2016, 3(1): 41-51. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2016.1.41

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Abstract

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid has been proposed as an anticancer agent, as an intervention to reduce cancer incidence, and also as a medication to reduce cancer treatment-related side effects. While there has been significant basic science research that has evaluated the potential tumoricidal mechanisms of action, clinical studies have been underpowered, retrospective, or poorly designed. Current systematic reviews have suggested that the outcome data from vitamin C therapy is limited. There is an important need for prospective clinical trials and pharmacologic studies to fully evaluate the potential of vitamin C as an anticancer agent.

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