Is vitamin C effective against cancer?

Vitamin C, particularly in high doses administered intravenously, shows potential as an adjunctive treatment for cancer. Dr. Rhonda Patrick discussed how high-dose intravenous vitamin C might be beneficial as a supportive treatment in combination with chemotherapy. It can also help in reducing side effects of chemotherapy and potentially improve the quality of life for cancer patients by alleviating symptoms like fatigue, nausea, and pain 1.

Furthermore, the pharmacological doses of intravenous vitamin C can lead to the creation of hydrogen peroxide, which has been shown to assist in cancer cell death. This is primarily because cancer cells often have lower levels of enzymes involved in detoxifying reactive oxygen species, increasing their susceptibility to oxidative stress and contributing to their death 2. However, Dr. Patrick also emphasizes the importance of more research to clearly understand the specific cancers and conditions where vitamin C would be most effective.