Vitamin C

Vitamin C Inhibits New Blood Vessel Growth to Tumors

High levels of vitamin C in the blood may help fight cancer by preventing angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels necessary to feed growing tumors, according to a recent report.

Fighting angiogenesis is a target of cancer therapy. Unfortunately, many existing angiogenesis inhibiors have toxic side effects, prompting scientists to seek safer, natural alternatives.

Scientists analyzed the effects of high levels of vitamin C on angiogenesis in two assasy: an ex vivo study using rat tisues and an in vivo study in mice. Both studies showed that high levels of vitamin C, obtainable through intravenous infusion, inhibited new blood vessel growth. In the in vivo assay, vitamin C-treated tissue showed 30% less blood vessel growth than un untreated tissue.

These findings complement previous research showing that high levels of the vitamin are selectively toxic to tumors in living animals. --J. Angiogenes Res. 2010 Jan. 18;2.2; P.R. Health Sci. J. 2005 June;24(2): 145-50.

Suzanne

I guess I had better continue taking Vitamin C supplements.

Yes, even humble Vit-C can help, but maybe only when ramped up to major overdose, which fortunately doesn't kill you.

I am not giving medical or dietary advice here!

What constitutes a "high level" of Vitamin C?

Probably in the neighborhood of between 10 and 60 grams. Goats, I am told, produce around 14 grams of Vitamin C every day. Humans don't produce any; it's an essential vitamin for us.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

If one is drinking adequate amounts of water, any excess of Vitamin C will be flushed without harm.

STORY:
I was in college when I learned the value of Vitamin C. A friend of mine came down with a viral infection that took him out of school for a week. On Saturday night, I too began feeling ill. I called him and asked what his symptoms had been, how high his fever had gone, and what diagnosis the doctor had given him (for I knew that he had gone to a conventional doctor for treatment). My symptoms exactly matched his. So I self-diagnosed as having come down with the so-called "Texas A" virus. Then I called a trusted doctor who emphasized natural therapies as much as possible but who also used convention medicine when necessary. I explained my situation to him and asked what he thought I should do. His answer surprised me. He told me to take 500 mg of Vitamin C every fifteen minutes, as long as I was awake, with a glass of water. He explained to me that if we were to put the Vitamin C into our system all at once, the acid would become overpowering to the sensitive lining in our stomach, and furthermore, much of it might be lost as the body flushed the excess. Taking the Vitamin C with water helped the body do just that, and that by taking one 500 mg tablet every 15 minutes, the body would be kept "topped off" with maximal levels of the vitamin.

I followed his advice. I slept some, but was awake enough to have taken about 10 grams by the end of Sunday. And I felt better. Much better. The fever had broken, leaving me only with that tired feeling one has at the end of the fight. I went ahead and took Monday off just to rest, but was then able to return to school for the rest of the week in good health.

I would not recommend high-dose Vitamin C except in treatment of disease, i.e. not as a preventative measure. However, I am not a doctor.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

If it isn't flushed out, what type of harm will it do?

Apparently, if I've understood it correctly, Vitamin C would tend to cause thirst, because it adds "salt" to the bloodstream. Sodium ascorbate, calcium citrate, etc. are combinations of cation and ion which form a "salt." This increases the osmotic pressure in the bloodstream, and would possibly cause a headache if the person were dehydrated. The acid may irritate the lining of the stomach. High doses taken by mouth could result in diarrhea. It is possible, given insufficient water, that the kidneys would be irritated or damaged--though I've spoken with a doctor who claims he has never seen evidence of such, and he gives 50 grams of Vitamin C in an I.V. for certain treatments that last between an hour and three or four hours. (If just one hour, the patient needs to be drinking water during the treatment.)

Well, I guess it sounds like it is not easy to experience much damage from Vitamin C.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.