The journal Redox Biology recently published results of a study about intravenous Vitamin C. In this investigation, one group of patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer received a particular chemotherapy. A second group got the same chemotherapy, plus 75 grams of IV Vitamin C three times a week. Those who received IV Vitamin C survived 16 months on average, while the group that received chemotherapy alone lived 8.3 months.

    As reviewed in the Redox Biology paper, Vitamin C for the treatment of cancer has a long history. In 1979, Cameron and Pauling reported increased survival in terminal cancer patients with the use of high-dose Vitamin C. Follow-up randomized studies, done at the Mayo Clinic, did not confirm Cameron and Pauling’s findings. Subsequently, the use of Vitamin C in cancer, whether IV or oral, has been dismissed as quackery.

    Nonetheless, interest has persisted, partly because the Mayo Clinic investigators did not properly reproduce Cameron and Pauling’s work. The Mayo Clinic investigators used only oral Vitamin C, compared to Cameron and Pauling’s use of both IV and oral forms. Blood levels of ascorbate are much higher with IV administration, as was confirmed in the Redox Biology publication.

    What does this mean for my patients? As you probably know, my long-time colleague and friend, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, learned about the use of high-dose pancreatic enzymes from Dr. William Donald Kelley. IV Vitamin C was in vogue during the time Kelley treated cancer patients. According to Nick, Kelley said that IV Vitamin C interfered with the action of the pancreatic enzymes.

    However, I have wondered if this was what Kelley meant. Some of my patients have used IV Vitamin C without bad effects. And, I have discussed this issue with one of the practitioners that Kelley trained decades ago. Kelley may have meant that referring patients for IV Vitamin C would lead to interference with the program.

    Kelley, like Nick and me, had patients scattered all over the country, so he would not have been able to administer IV products himself. Referrals have always been a challenge, since other practitioners may not understand the theoretical underpinnings of the program, and make counterproductive suggestions.

    At the end of it all, what do I think of IV Vitamin C? While this new article is certainly interesting, Vitamin C was administered along with chemotherapy. I am not convinced that it is effective by itself. And while their results are better than chemotherapy alone, nonetheless, only one patient out of 31 was alive at the time of publication. Our pilot study with pancreatic cancer showed better results. Follow this link for a copy of the pilot study article, and to watch an interview of one of my patients who survived more than 20 years after the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

    Whether IV Vitamin C would be helpful in addition to this program, I do not know. It would be an added expense, and I don’t know if it is worth the money. The jury is still out.