Dec 3, 2007 6:03 pm US/Eastern
Vitamin C May Be A Cure For Cancer
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Local researchers uncover valuable information about the role of Vitamin C in the treatment of cancer.
Healthwatch Reporter Kellye Lynn reports on the promising new findings out of Johns Hopkins.
The researchers have determined that Vitamin C and other antioxidants can slow the growth of certain types of cancerous tumors, but not in the way many scientists had thought.
Vitamin C is found in juice, fruits and vegetables. A vitamin is needed for the growth and repair of the body's tissues.
"It helps to build your immune system and helps to get rid of a cold quicker," said Michelle Jacobs, who takes Vitamin C.
But is Vitamin C an effective cancer fighter? Nearly three decades after a scientist suggested it could prevent the disease, Johns Hopkins researchers have uncovered new information to explain why.
Dr. Chi Dang and his colleagues gave mice Vitamin C then injected them with lymphoma and prostate cancer cells.
The Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, appeared to slow the growth of the tumors. Dr. Dang says the key seems to be the way the antioxidant affects a protein in cancer cells called H.I.F.
"Vitamin C inhibits this protein, makes it go down, the cells can't survive on oxygen and die," said Dr. Chi Dang with Johns Hopkins.
The next step is to see which cancers are most responsive to Vitamin C then move the research from mice to human cancer patients.
Dr. Dang says more research is necessary and says it's too early to encourage cancer patients to take doses of Vitamin C.
Testing on humans could happen in just three years.
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