Shiva D
03/23/2024
Intravenous (IV) vitamin C has gained attention in recent years as a potential complementary therapy for cancer. It is believed that IV vitamin C can selectively target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. This blog post will discuss the mechanisms of action of IV vitamin C in cancer, with references to peer-reviewed journals.
One proposed mechanism of action of IV vitamin C in cancer is its pro-oxidant effects. Cancer cells have higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than healthy cells, and IV vitamin C can increase ROS levels further. ROS are molecules that can damage cells and cause oxidative stress. In healthy cells, antioxidants neutralize ROS and protect against oxidative damage. However, cancer cells have lower levels of antioxidants and are more vulnerable to oxidative stress. IV vitamin C can exploit this vulnerability by increasing ROS levels to a point where cancer cells undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death) while sparing healthy cells.
Studies have shown that IV vitamin C can induce apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. One study investigated the effects of IV vitamin C on colorectal cancer cells and found that it induced apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway. The authors also found that IV vitamin C inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in mice with colorectal cancer.
IV vitamin C may also have effects on signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and angiogenesis. One study investigated the effects of IV vitamin C on pancreatic cancer cells and found that it inhibited the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. The NF-κB pathway is involved in inflammation and cell survival and is often dysregulated in cancer cells. Inhibition of this pathway can lead to reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis.
Another study investigated the effects of IV vitamin C on angiogenesis, which is the process by which new blood vessels are formed. Angiogenesis is critical for tumor growth and metastasis. The authors found that IV vitamin C inhibited angiogenesis by reducing the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is a protein that promotes angiogenesis.
IV vitamin C has gained attention as a potential complementary therapy for cancer. The mechanisms of action of IV vitamin C in cancer are not entirely clear, but several hypotheses have been proposed. IV vitamin C may induce apoptosis in cancer cells by increasing ROS levels, enhance immune function by stimulating the production of interferons and natural killer cells, and inhibit signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Further research is needed to fully understand the effects of IV vitamin C in cancer and to determine its potential as a therapeutic agent.
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