High-dose IV Vitamin C Shows Promise as Cancer Adjunct, Not Cure

Linus Pauling once advocated massive vitamin C doses for cancer, a claim later dismissed after oral-pill trials showed no benefit. Modern scientists now recognize that intravenous administration can raise blood levels dozens of times higher than pills, enabling vitamin C to generate hydrogen peroxide that selectively harms stressed cancer cells. Preliminary trials in ovarian, pancreatic and brain tumors suggest the infusion is generally well tolerated and may improve quality of life and, in some cases, modestly extend survival when combined with chemotherapy.

Laboratory work also hints at effects on DNA regulation and immune recognition. Nonetheless, study sizes are small, findings mixed, and patients with kidney impairment face risks. Consequently, high-dose IV vitamin C remains experimental and should be confined to controlled research settings until robust randomized trials confirm its efficacy.