Can an Orange a Day Keep Cancer Away?

No, but study finds vitamin C injections may slow tumor growth
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 5, 2008 8:17 AM CDT
Can an Orange a Day Keep Cancer Away?
When in the body, ascorbic acid creates higher levels of hydrogen peroxide, which kills cancer cells more readily than other cells.   (AP Photo/Thomas Kienzle)

Injections of high doses of vitamin C may help the body fight tumors, a new study has found. While previous tests have shown that oral doses don't provide much cancer-fighting help, the high concentrations injected into lab mice resulted in only half as much tumor growth as in the control group, Reuters reports.

"The key finding here is that this is ascorbic acid used as a drug that appears to have some promise in treating some cancers," said the study's lead researcher. Scientists speculate that the vitamin creates toxic hydrogen peroxide within cancer cells. Comparable doses of vitamin C are likely safe for humans.
(More vitamin C stories.)

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